Internet and the De-Idolization of Celebrities

I was scrolling through my Instagram feed the other day. Like always, I came across several excerpts of articles and reels about celebrities. Though the lives of celebrities usually linger on the fringes of my inquisitiveness, I cannot deny the fact that the constant publicization and the blazoned names are engrossing to some extent. Let’s be honest: we have all fallen prey to the latest hot gossip about celeb-town. But things get even more riveting when the typical idol-worshipping of these celebs turns sour, and the facade of their glamourized lives is disclosed. The internet has played a crucial factor in bringing up this new era where celebrities are humanized, scrutinized, and often ‘de-idolized’. This unprecedented access has brought a dynamic shift in reshaping the celeb culture and how our society has started perceiving fame, influence, and power.

When once glamorous, if unattainable, celebrities like Kim Kardashian are laid bare before public criticism for one misstep after another on social media, here's an example of the internet changing our way of seeing celebrities and how they define themselves. From careless words to shady business ventures, the internet reports every step wrongly taken, subjecting her to real-time public lambasting. Idolization has taken a new form: whereas we so easily fell in love with our beloved stars, now we're equally as quick to tear them down.

Surge in Accountability

The internet has afforded not just access to celebrities but has also transferred the power to hold their feet to fire for their improprieties. Increased accountability has been a giant stride towards de-idolization, especially through phenomena like "Cancel Culture." Pre-internet celebrities, by and large, escaped substantial controversies without major fallouts. Now their past behaviour and ethical practice would be monitored instantaneously with social media accountability and mistakes counted on them to own up.

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs is an example. Once fawned over as a hip-hop icon and much more, Diddy has weathered the days and nights of withering social media backlash from the world's celebrities, especially Twitter, where fans and foes alike demanded that the mogul answer for his practices both in business and in how he treated his former collaborators. The ease of recording such a detail as well as the permanence of the internet has made it easier for individuals to go back and reassess those problematic moments in the celebrity's past with layers of accountability, which were absent beforehand.

Today, every celebrity dreads that his or her past and present actions may be dissected, debated, and, consequently, fan loyalty lost. The constant attention makes stars captious people who have no choice but to evolve or suffer the wrath of public opinion, thereby stripping them of the status of being untouchable.

A New Chapter

De-idolization of stars has another angle: the rise of influencers and micro-celebrities. Granting ordinary people the fame-filled platforms of YouTube, TikTok, or Instagram has led to authenticity and relatability instead of heroism because the global focus falls on traditionally charismatic celebrities.

These influencers often attract their fans because they share similar experiences and can build that much-needed personal connection with their audience. They're easier to reach than the Hollywood star. A good example is YouTuber Emma Chamberlain, who has gained millions of followers because of her candid, less polished content. Fans see her more like a peer rather than that far-off celebrity worship, which dilutes the worship of traditional stars like the Kardashians. The rise in popularity of influencers is a harbinger of a cultural shift toward more humanized figures, and the result is a collective rethink of what it means to be famous.

In my opinion, the magic of influencers now seems to grasp the audience in a manner more effective than conventional movie stars, perhaps even epitomizing that the old days of idolizing the unreachable stars are finally coming to an end. Instead, authenticity and vulnerability have become the hallmarks audiences crave, which comes down to the negation of the perfect celebrity.

Democratizing Criticism

One of the most subtle ways through which the internet has contributed to de-idolizing celebrities is through democratizing criticism. It has popularized platforms that can make any citizen speak their minds about celebrity culture. For example, Reddit, YouTube, and Twitter have become hotspots where people discuss celebrity culture. The end result is the creation of small communities where individuals flout the idea of idolizing celebrities.

It has empowered the marginalized voices to question celebrities with performative activism or possible malicious behavior that perhaps would have remained unexposed. Digital discourse has helped in the deconstruction of thought and practice constructs that ascribe infallibility. Instead, with increasing recognition, they are increasingly looked at as humans who can make errors like anyone else.

Conclusion

With the internet now reigning supreme, celebrities are not nearly as untouchable as they once were. Social media allowed for greater access, and the reign of celebrity influencer culture helped to belie the very notion that fame was something out of reach. The democratization of criticism, of course, has come with cancel culture, further eroding the pedestal on which once-selected public figures rested. Though the celeb appeal will never fade, the internet certainly portends a much more discerning, sophisticated, and realistic appreciation of them.

Khadija Khan is a student pursuing B.Com (Hons.) from Jamia Millia Islamia.

Edited by: Sana Faiz

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.