The Everyday ‘Celebrities’ Of Social Media

The Everyday ‘Celebrities’ Of Social Media

What’s the first thing you do when you get up? Wash your face? C’mon! In this day and age, the first thing that we do once we wake up is check our phones, usually some form of social media.

We might be all of 18 but there’s no denying that the advent of social media has been one of the biggest and defining moments of the 21st century. Today, netizens across the globe use social media all day, every day. Apps like Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat have been instrumental in making the world smaller, virtually. For India, Orkut was the first platform that was extremely popular. Facebook took some time to catch up, but once it did, it refused to relinquish the throne to anything else! Instagram is also one of the coolest apps to hit the market, with its diverse functions and massive network. Not just a trend for the youth, public figures like models, bloggers, stand-up comedians, actors, even politicians have taken to social media to connect with their fans.

However, more and more ‘laymen’ have started trending on social media, garnering a multitude of followers. Among millennials, social media stars are becoming synonymous with the word ‘celebrity’. These ‘social media stars’ might be your next-door neighbour, or even the high school nerd! What makes them popular? We take a look at some of these individuals right here in Bhubaneswar, along with their followers on Instagram!

B M Baisali, 69k “Instagram is like a mirror for me. I think the reason people follow me is because my posts are entertaining, and multidimensional. Honestly, I don’t know what’s trendy and what’s not, I just dance to my own tune!”

Shweta Mishra, 53.2k

“I didn’t even know what Instagram was, till recently. I joined it because many of my peers were raving about it, so I thought I’d give it a try.”

Brahmarupa Padhi, 42.6kWell, I don’t believe I am popular. I have a lot of followers I agree, but it’s just a number. I’m glad that so many people are showing their love and affection on me. I’m genuinely grateful to them.”

Dipshikha Hota, 22.3k“I think it’s because I’ve been using social media for a really long time, and I keep posting new content very often. Plus, I have a lot of friends in college, so they follow me, and then their friends, and on!”

Priyasha Sai Ukil, 16.6k followersWhen asked about her popularity, she blurts “I have no idea. I’m not a public figure, don’t write or blog.”

Baibhav Mishra 2.7k“I do not think I’m popular at all. Actually, I don’t think anyone is going to say that they’re popular. We Odias are very humble! (Laughs) I have a slightly elevated number of followers because I like to socialise and meet new people. Bhubaneswar is a small place; if you’ve grown up here like I have, every person you meet usually has some mutual connections. For all the computer geeks, it’s similar to a B tree chain – where you’re curious to know about people and vice versa!”

Social media gives identity to the anonymous, a forum for self-expression and a sense of adventure. Are not these essential for self-fulfilment and a boost for self-esteem? A positive identity is crucial, especially for the multitude of teenagers using the internet today. This realisation of identity and ability to express, is somewhat dependent on the popularity one gets on the virtual space and the response one generates. Haven’t we all seen those ads which show people getting upset because they don’t get enough likes for their posts! But how far is that true?

Says Baibhav, “Honestly, I upload pictures which I feel like putting up; maybe the picture means something to me or maybe it just makes me happy! But the number of likes doesn’t matter. Some people may not like it, that’s their prerogative. Scroll down, buddy!” Brahmarupa agrees with Baibhav as she points out, “It doesn’t bother me how many likes I have garnered because I post stuff that satisfies me. Whatever allures me, I make sure to capture and share it on social media. In the end, people have different opinions and perceptions. So, some people may appreciate it and some may not. No big deal!”

However, Hota has a very frank perspective. “Honestly, I do feel a little bad. I know it doesn’t matter, but it does rankle a bit.” So how does she deal with it, we ask. “I’m working on my sense of self, and soon this won’t bother me anymore.”

At a time, when social media has become a platform where people tend to put the best version of themselves on display, are the virtual profiles an accurate representation of the actual individuals? Priyasha says, “For me, it is for sure! My feed, in fact, is a flood of memories; some selfies, some pictures with friends, but all very dear to me. I have received messages from people, who say that they like my posts and stories. For me, Instagramming is a 21st century version of journaling.”

Brahmarupa exclaims, “Social media is my happy place! I’m a travel freak. I always wanted to explore new places and while we travel, we meet people and we get to know about their lifestyles and cultures. And India is the best place to do that! I document all my travel titbits on social media and it’s very therapeutic for me.”

Gone are the days when social media was considered a ‘passing fad’; it’s thriving and multiplying rapidly today. Not only has it captured the imagination of the various generations, it’s now considered a standard tool for marketing. How long this popularity will last, only time will tell. But for now, it’s an integral, advantageous and extremely fun part of life!