Society’s tendency to blindly follow media foolish, requires change
“Bieber Fever” has consumed the teenage demographic in the U.S. for the past few years, but the pop star’s fans’ devotion has reached a level of huge concern. When footage of Justin Bieber allegedly smoking marijuana surfaced, “#Cut4Bieber” started trending nationally on Twitter. The tweet suggested that teens cut themselves to show disapproval of Bieber’s alleged drug use. The original message was traced back to a faux Twitter account previously known for making similar practical jokes. Earlier this year the same account ignited a rumor that Bieber had cancer and that teens should go “#BaldForBieber.” Celebrities and everyday people condemned this account and the idea of turning a serious struggle for people into a laughing matter.
While that argument is entirely valid, an almost greater concern needs to be expressed for teenagers that are so easily persuaded by social media to take such drastic measures without checking the facts. Unfortunately, people will continue to mock sensitive issues, but it is more important to change how we react than to attempt to stop them.
The fact that people will blindly believe anything they read on Twitter is preposterous. Media so often fabricate stories and images, altering them to fit a certain context, that the lines between what is factual and what isn’t are frequently blurred. The fact that this Twitter account has been able to convince teenagers of multiple rumors about Justin Bieber and motivate extreme action highlights how naive our country has become.
Social media are dangerous for this exact reason. People have the liberty to say whatever they want and there is nothing to filter the facts from the lies. Many people do not consider this when they check their Twitter feed and allow themselves to be convinced to do things they may regret.
Another serious issue lies in the fact that people in our country have become so obsessed with a pop star icon that they would hurt themselves. While it is understandable that some fans would be disappointed in their idol for using drugs, it is frightening that in their minds, one dangerous vice can be used to condemn another. Cutting oneself is extremely dangerous and can be deadly. The severity of such an act clearly is not apparent to these adolescents.
While action should certainly be taken to prevent faux Twitter accounts from creating such harmful rumors and calls to action, it is equally important that we focus on the people who actually were going to hurt themselves for the fake cause. Our society needs to only focus on media and celebrities as a means of entertainment and not allow them to dictate our lives and brainwash us into making unhealthy decisions.