I’m not much for following celebrities’ social media accounts. But when I hear that a celebrity’s social media presence is managed and generated by a staff, I lose whatever little interest I might have had.
George Takei has gained a lot of followers and a lot of respect for the cleverness and insight of his Facebook posts. Now, though, it seems that random comedians, “his husband,” and uncredited “interns” are responsible for creating and managing that content.
Takei’s response (“What is important is the reliability of my posts being there to greet my fans with a smile or a giggle every morning.”) demonstrates a failure to grasp the essence and spirit of social media: its ability to provide direct access, to foster authentic connections with authentic people.
Worse, Mr. Takei seems to be overlooking the irony in his own response: If “what’s important is the reliability of my posts being there … every morning,” one might want to put a little effort into one’s posts being one’s own.
If we discovered a five-star chef’s award-winning food was conceived and prepared by a secret staff, would we say, “All that’s important is the reliability of his food appearing on our plates?” If we discovered uncredited interns had actually directed Hitchcock’s movies, would we say, “All that’s important is the reliability of those movies appearing on the screen?” If all of Ansel Adam’s photos had been taken by a staff and merely credited to him, would we say, “All that matters s having those lovely photos on our walls?”
A painting you buy is not really “your” painting. A book you buy is not really “your” book. A song you purchase is not really “your” song.
Now more than ever, authenticity matters.
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