{"id":398,"date":"2019-05-06T08:30:28","date_gmt":"2019-05-06T00:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/?p=398"},"modified":"2019-05-06T14:09:53","modified_gmt":"2019-05-06T06:09:53","slug":"social-media-influencers-post-semi-naked-selfies-to-get-more-likes-introducing-the-practice-of-micro-celebrity-trend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/2019\/05\/06\/social-media-influencers-post-semi-naked-selfies-to-get-more-likes-introducing-the-practice-of-micro-celebrity-trend\/","title":{"rendered":"Social media influencers post semi-naked selfies to get more likes introducing the practice of \u2018micro-celebrity\u2019 trend."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Abstract<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main purpose of this paper is mainly to lay emphasis on the trend that social media influencers have created through semi-naked selfies. The first part of the paper introduces us to the evolution of social media how it has created a booming effect on individuals giving them a voice in this modern era. The second part of this paper focuses on the self -representation on social platform how social media influencers are self-branding themselves into creating \u2018micro-celebrity\u2019 a new concept out of them touching into the economic aspect present. The discussion will be based on the economic side presented to us through social media celebrities and also making us question their authenticity. The main concept that will be discussed will be about how the semi-naked selfies culture trend has boosted social media influencers self-esteem and empowering of them to be more confident in their own skin but at the same time, it makes us question whether the unwatched life is not with living.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keywords: online identity , influencers, selfies, sexuality, micro-celebrity<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media as a  revolutionary term is viewed as being an essence of life to user-generated content(Neiburger, 2010). The advent of web 2.0 has changed the meaning of communication in itself as it is has expanded and evolved in many different spheres. According to Yadav(2013), famous social media sites such as Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest has generated great value as they are the one which has given meaning out of common people life giving them the title of being \u2018influencers\u2019. They are viewed as micro-celebrity as they have power over the \u2018ordinary people\u2019. Pondering over it, \u2018micro-celebrity\u2019 is often associated with self-branding as it helps in the construction of one\u2019s online identity (Page,2012). The future will be made up of micro-celebrities creating new trends in order to acquire a position in society, today it may be semi-naked selfies who knows what tomorrow will it consist of. The eminent role played by influencers in this particular creation of semi-naked selfies trend has been given rise to the economic aspect related to it but along with it, there is this notion of empowering women and building up their self-esteem making them self-made celebrity through selfies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The booming evolution of web 2.0 has led to a rise in social media platforms and how it gave a chance and a voice to common people to become a micro-celebrity and to new trends in this modern era:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this dynamic digital era, this evolution has created a major shift in the paradigm from web 1.0 to Web 2.0 that is from spectatorship to the opportunity to express themselves (DesAutels, 2011). According to O\u2019Reilly(2005), \u2018\u2026a set of principles and particles that tie together a veritable solar system of ties\u2026\u2019 With this change, we have the availability of various social media platforms such as Instagram, facebook, youtube, twitter and so on. Hence this did give rise to new media concepts which have emerged and had a prominent place nowadays. With convergence, there is a participatory culture which is impactful as it the one giving the opportunity to common people to become social media influencers(H.jenkins, 2006). With it, there is \u2019prosumerism\u2019 which comes into place that is the consumer can become is no longer restricted to its private sphere they are the one in power and are giving this chance that is the voice to become who they want to be. According to Pfeiffer(2010), new media is viewed as being an improved version of old media in order for it to evolve. This poignant shift from old media to new media is present as here there is the shift from photography to selfie which is the new media trend. In addition to this, how user-generated content have personalised this selfie culture in their own way giving rise to semi-naked selfies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The notion of self-representation and online identity of social media influencers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Online identity is considered as a social construct whereby the individuals who create it have to base themselves on their values, lifestyles and even stereotypes present in society. It fluctuates according to the environment an individual is present in(Hartley, 2013). Highlighting the importance of social media platforms, it is is to be noted that self-representation of an individual which starts with the notion of self which makes it more personalised. According to Thumim(2012),  \u2018\u2026used to refer to activities of participating audiences in digital culture along with self and presentation of self\u2026\u2019 this is to depict that self-representation in the online sphere may be easily mediated on social platforms. When we talk about online identity there is something which is prominent in today’s time which is online theft and fake identities which is mainly on the rising. There is both online and offline Identity theft. According to OECD(2009), Identity theft is an illegal activity which creates multiple crimes as it misuses personal information and their private information such as ISPs, phone companies and so on. The most current issue will be the continuous presence of fake accounts. One social media platform which is Instagram which is filled with influencers with self-presentation of themselves through selfies (Kang, 2019). We are made to acknowledge that there are two types of accounts one whereby they post their perfect life in a way and the other fake accounts which to depict their imperfection making the audience question their authenticity through the selfies that they actually post as it is correlated to the way they represent themselves in the online sphere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The micro-celebrity trend created by social media influencers have created this urge to obtain more likes by posting semi-naked selfies tapping into self-branding concept :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Objectivity prompts us to acknowledge that there is this correlation present between micro-celebrity concept and the basic notion of self -branding. Bearing in mind that it is more about through an influential being on social platforms promoting a product for a company through selfies with the product (Khamis,2016). For instance, Influencers such as Victoria secret model, Candice Swanepoel, post semi-naked selfies and even pictures with the product in order to raise gain the attention of the audience about the product that they are selling they have to expose themselves. The focus is more driven towards the economic aspect through self-branding of social media influencers through semi-naked selfies and pictures. It has indeed become so prevalent. According to Thomson (2006), it is through a micro-celebrity strong public identity that there is self-branding. It is an economic tactic by social media who promise wealth to common users hence encouraging this trend of influencers who in order to promote a product will eventually post semi-naked selfies and pictures as part of their work. As shown in the picture here emphasis may be laid on the semiotics of identity which forms part of the self-branding concept. According to Berger (2011), who points out that the way we advertise helps us in shaping our identities in the online sphere and the way we project ourselves the image that one to be perceived with. In addition to this, it is easier for others to perceive the influencer for who they are and for what product they are representing. The economic aspect present comes in the form of \u2018affective labour\u2019 as they perform time-consuming and not necessarily profitable kind of labor (Raun, 2018). By acknowledging the role of selfie culture which helps in promoting self -esteem plays a significant position. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trend of semi-naked selfies on social media platforms by influencers also known as micro-celebrity :<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The common term would be \u2018selfie culture\u2019 which is viewed as taking a digital portrait of one and sharing them on social media sites such as integrals and facebook(Saltz, 2014). Selfie is a simple projection of oneself. Its creation has generated multiple effects over\u00a0 audience in general as though it has helped in empowering women and their self-esteem (Alblooshi, 2015). Hence it has played a crucial role in making individuals feel good in their own skin without any stereotypes. According to shin (2017), self-esteem plays an important role in evaluating the self-worth of an individual. Social media influencers the one in power exert this selfies trend on their followers for instance; which is in fashion right now is semi-naked selfies. It can be said that selfies as a social construction as it is made according to the online normsTheir followers will follow their trend in order to fit and in order to feel validated in a way and not excluded in this online community. Receiving more likes based upon their physical appearance increase the self-worth of a woman(Chang, 2019). This selfie concept, in particular, will entice women of low self-confidence as it is an open gateway for them to feel that they belong to this online community. This is considered as one of the reasons why there is the culture of semi-naked selfies and pictures is actually in fashion as women will be mimicking their social media influencers by posing like them and taking both selfies and pictures as them even though there is this possibility that it might become an obsession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have to acknowledge that even though selfie culture has helped in boosting the confidence of individual but in excess or abusing of it will have a negative effect. According to Varnali (2015) \u2018\u2026the trend of taking selfies, as well as the use of social media to mediate their internal interaction to fulfill their self-esteem needs\u2026\u2019 which is justifiable due to an influence of posting selfies have become an addiction. Also, it is to be noted that selfie-taking has a direct linked to online identity and its self-representation. The role of gender in shaping selfies is an important perception to be taken into consideration as when we talk about semi-naked selfies it about both sexes and not limited to only one gender (Boursier,2018). In the online sphere, selfie expectancies have a tendency to evoke sexual self-attractiveness for the male gender and promote self -presentation for both sexes. Moreover, since in its the digital era there is the notion of digital footprint which will be persistent it is about both sexes to co-exist and over-exposure of semi-naked selfies may have a detrimental effect for professional career afterward. There is self -made celebrities who practice the semi-naked selfies for fame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The online selfie celebrity culture cornering around exposing one\u2019s body trend have helped in the creation of self-made celebrity through selfies. According to Brooks (2017), Kardashian is viewed as being the elite celebrities \u2018\u2026promote images of flawless beauty via body augmentation, makeup and frequent posting of selfies\u2026\u2019 excessive posts of her selfies and pictures had a potent influence on the rise in selfies in general. These two posts on Kim Kardashian platform on Instagram highlights her semi-naked selfies trend and naked pictures along with it. The relations of photography with an exposed or semi-naked body can accept different shapes and recording traditions (Ferenc, 2018). This is illustrated in the following pictures of the Kardashian family who expresses their body style as influencers through semi-naked selfies and pictures. This online selfie celebrity culture makes us question whether the unwatched life is not worth living, it makes us ponder more over other the authenticity of the lives of the celebrities(Gameson, 2011). It makes us wonder over the authenticity present in the influencers life, we as audience are presented with an ideal illusion of them through semi-naked clothes exposing their flawless physical appearance. The other side of the coin is masked in the online environment as we are limited only to the appearance they project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"

This is shown to highlight the importance laid upon self-made celebrity <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The aim of social media influencers is to gain followers who will along with them propagate this new selfie culture which is semi-naked selfies and pictures.As the one in power, they are the one who will influence the public in representing themselves as an image of them following the same steps as them. They aim to obtain the economic aspect out of it that is a living out of it and also to become more popular than they already are. This ultimately does have an impact on their online identity and the way they represent themselves, however, as shown above, semi-naked selfies may be for representing companies brand such as Victoria secret.Further studies will be made to examine semi-naked selfies about both genders as infleuncers .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

References:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Abstract The main purpose of this paper is mainly to lay emphasis on the trend that social media influencers have created through semi-naked selfies. The first part of the paper introduces us to the evolution of social media how it has created a booming effect on individuals giving them a voice in this modern era.… Continue reading Social media influencers post semi-naked selfies to get more likes introducing the practice of \u2018micro-celebrity\u2019 trend.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":64,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-identity"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/64"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=398"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":448,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398\/revisions\/448"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/networkconference.netstudies.org\/2019Curtin\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}