Breaking more than the Internet
I have seen Kim Kardashian’s rear side more than I care to think about. And I’ve brought up her name in conversation in the last couple of days more than I ever will again.
Last week, Kim attempted to “break the Internet” with nude photos she took for Paper Magazine. Although she didn’t break the Internet, she still did plenty of damage — to our society, to our culture, to our minds, and to our morality.
With more than 24 million likes on her Facebook page, 21 million Instagram followers and 25.5 million Twitter followers, Kim has more influence than most congressional leaders. So when she posted a nude photo of herself, there was a massive audience ready and waiting.
There are several ways I could take this. I could question why someone like her has such great influence. I could be angry that she has forced her naked self into the minds of millions. I could even talk about how much this sets women back in trying to attain respect and equality with men. But instead of venting my anger and frustration towards her, I’m going to vent it towards myself — and toward all of us.
Celebrities are celebrities because we put them there. People aren’t famous or in the tabloids because no one likes them. Whether we pick up a magazine to worship a celebrity or to mock her doesn’t matter. We still pick it up.
Kim Kardashian is one of the most followed celebrities on social media. But no is forcing people to follow her; they are choosing to follow her. They double tap her selfies, her modelling pictures, and now her nudes.
As much as I would love to point the finger at Kim for Thursday’s chaos, I have to turn my finger right back at myself. Did I click on an article about the picture? Did I vent about it on Facebook? Did I bring it up in every conversation I had that day? Then I have accomplished her goal for her. In fact, I’m accomplishing her goal by writing this.
Sometimes, when a child throws a fit, the best thing to do is to not look at them. They want attention, and if you don’t give it to them they will most likely stop. Am I arguing we should treat Kim Kardashian like a child throwing a fit? I sure am.
Ignoring wrong in this world will not make it disappear. Someone needs to act. But in the case of the Internet, sometimes by not acting on something we are making a stand. Media outlets tailor their stories to what their audience wants. If their readers want more celebrity gossip, they will give it to them. And if their readers want more articles with a positive message, they will publish more of these kinds of stories.
There is no governing Internet authority to take this issue to. We are the ones who control what becomes popular online. So if you don’t agree with Kim or what she does, then don’t give her and the people behind her the attention they want. Every click, every article you read about her is a vote that you want to hear more about her.
Let’s take it a step further, though. This concept doesn’t just apply to Kim. It applies to anything on the Internet that you disagree with. If you don’t want to see it or hear about it, then stop giving it the attention it needs to thrive. Stop voting with your clicks and double taps.
Yes, Kim Kardashian has released some inappropriate photos that made me angry to my bones. But if she thought no one would care, do you think she would have posted them?
Kim didn’t get any money for flaunting her privates. What she was looking for was influence. And that, my friends, is something we gave to her with abandon.
Photo (FlickrCC) by Joanne Tolner.
