CS371 Blog 3 - Vanessa Bruzzese

 In the film Eighth Grade, Kayla is a prime example of the anxieties that are caused by the interactivity of new digital media. This is true as in the film, Kayla's character is shaped around being a pre-teen whose life is surrounded by social media and the pressures that follow due to being an avid social media user. An example that stuck with me was at the beginning of the movie when Kayla took multiple selfies with filters in order to capture the picture she believed she looked best in. It is in this way that she was clearly anxious about her appearance and what others online thought of her. This anxiety about her appearance is a relatable feeling that many young people, especially girls, feel online as so many influencers display a perfect life and so, young people are subject to insecurities based on comparing themselves to influencers. This is an example of a social construct because if social media did not exist, the pressures of portraying a perfect life and putting the best version of oneself online would not be a thing. However, it is because of how society values social media and the role that is plays in people's lives. 

This raises issues about Kayla's authenticity as due to insecurities based on social constructions, she does not portray her true self online. This is not just true of the selfie example, but also, when she makes YouTube videos as she discusses fabricated scenarios in order to portray a more "desirable" life, again based on social constructions. 




Comments

  1. Kim BrowneOctober 21, 2022 at 12:01 PM

    Hi Vanessa,
    I found the way you connected the social constructions to Kayla's anxieties showed how technology affects our daily lives. I agree that how our society has been constructed has heightened anxieties in young teens, especially girls. Many of these girls are pressured to have the perfect body, relationship and lifestyle. Not only does it affect their relationships with their self-worth, but as seen in Eight Grade, her relationship with her father was ruined because she could not disconnect from her phone. As Baym discusses, these social constructions are caused by how humans have chosen to shape their online experiences culturally.
    Overall, I liked your post!
    Kim

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mahaila MilneOctober 21, 2022 at 5:32 PM

    Hi Vanessa,
    I enjoyed reading your post and agree with you that anxieties about appearance is something that affects many, especially young people. Young people are able to constantly compare themselves to others online, making them feel bad about themselves if they do not live up to a particular beauty standard. The majority of photos people see on social media is not an authentic representation of what someone actually looks like, and this can be really damaging to easy influenced young people.

    ReplyDelete
  3. OwenOctober 25, 2022 at 6:56 AM

    Hi Vanessa,
    I found your post enjoyable and something that I agree with the fact that youth these days do in fact deal a tremendous amount with anxiety around technology and how it can affect our every day lives. Many young teens get the added pressure of having to feel accepted and wanting to "fit" in to a specific look, social group, etc. This is evident in Eighth Grade s Kaylas makes her videos in order to feel accepted and fit in with others; in which she changes her whole demeanour and who she is just for the sake of others. These social constructions are shaped by how she chose to be seen online through presentation and experiences.
    Overall, great post!

    ReplyDelete

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