January 2021

JANUARY 2021 | A DIGITAL CONNECTION

Is influencing a savvy business move? | Are you getting enough from your digital social life? | disconnecting is harder than you might think | the social grouping within games | the power of media to shift your perspective | and much more!

INFORMATIVE. ENTERTAINING. SUCCINCT.

A PODCAST COMING SOON TO

LINKBCIT.CA

OUR CONNECTIONS The 21st century has been referred to as the new golden age because of all the technological advancements that have allowed content creation to burst over the top. The media boom we’ve experienced so far has created a social media phenomenon in the form of influencers, fanbases, bloggers, brand advocates, content curators and creators and so much more that cannot be condensed on this one page.

With it all, the lines between our different modes of communication have blurred and allowed us to feel a sense of connection unlike before. It seems online

communities are on the rise, while offline communities dwindle, but the reality of it all is a bit hard to really peg down. In this issue we try to look at the media forms that have come about because of the many tech advances we have made as a humanity. Have they made us for the better or have they made everything worse than before?

The verdict is up to you, but I’d encourage you to think as you read through what part you have played in all of this.

For all the purposes intended for media combined, this issue of Link looks on how we have all been connected by media, while questioning whether the media we consume has shaped us to be who we are, or if our lived experiences have shaped the media landscape.

—Chantel Tanaka, Associate Editor

LINK | JANUARY 2021

As the new year is in sight and hopes are up in the air, I hope you go through the issue having found a piece of media that’s made a profound impact in your life.

For many of us, media has now gone beyond the tv and radio and we cannot remember a time where it was otherwise.

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28 • MEDIA'S POWER

LINK | JANUARY 2021

26 • SOCIAL GROUPING IN VIDEO GAMES

ISSN 0715-5247 (Print) ISSN 2562-3257 (Online)

22 • CREATION DEFINES ME

STAFF

16 • LED FACE MASKS

Lauren Edwards, Senior Editor Chantel Tanaka, Associate Editor Jonah van Driesum, Associate Editor Shaleeta Harrison, Publications Manager

14 • THE SOCIAL DILEMMA

editor@linkbcit.ca | linkbcit.ca

10 • THE BIG DISCONNECT

Have an idea? Contact us!

08 • GOOGLE THIS

Printed editions are distributed to all five BCIT campuses & additional content is published online at linkbcit.ca

We welcome writers, photographers and artists of all backgrounds and abilities.

Our purpose is to provide a collaborative platform for student expression, and to connect you with one another’s stories and experiences.

3700 Willingdon Ave. SE2 Building, 3rd Floor | Burnaby, BC V5G 3H2 | 604. 451. 7191

Link Magazine would like to respectfully acknowledge that it is printed and distributed on the traditional & unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples.

06 • CONTRIBUTORS

We feature exceptional people in our community, big ideas in a changing world, and evolving social dialogue.

IN THIS ISSUE

20 • BROKE ASS BUYING

30 • BEHIND THE SCREEN

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CONTRIBUTORS Chantel Tanaka As a person who proudly boasts that they aren’t a part of the Facebook generation, but doesn’t quite fit in with the Snapchat generation seeing social media’s increased influence on various platforms in the last decade has piqued my curiosity. My increased screen time prodded me question the effect on our brain the manner in which we have quickly adapted to the various social media apps available to us.

Jonah van Driesum " Technology has allowed me to keep my mind active despite being stuck in place physically for the last year. Its important to explore how that is affecting our social culture and there is no better example of interactive technological culture than video games and the communitys that pop up around them. Without video games, I would have spoken to far fewer strangers and friends this year.

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Takshita Kumar

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In this issue you can see my attempt at entering the digital world as an artist, and finding an art style that is unique to me. It is still a work in progress and you will definitely see various different versions of styles that I will proclaim as my own; however the content feeling while creating each piece stays the same. Lastly, I would like to request each of you to support a small local business or artist by sending them lots of love and support.

Maria Diment As an aspiring fashion blogger and content creator, I’ve been paving my way in this relatively new industry since early spring of 2020. The topic of social media influencers is one that many people know very little about. I’m excited to talk about it in this Link issue and to portray the reality and new possibilities of modern social media.

Nelson Ellis The pandemic has forced me to spend an increased amount of time online. After spending so much time in front of a screen, I started to feel like I was losing touch with reality. The article I wrote, The Big Disconnect, gave me a chance to reflect on my relationship with technology

Karlynn Griffin The articles I wrote this month were inspired by me scrolling through social media. I noticed an increase in posts on Instagram about bitcoin, and I decided that I could do some digging into why this cryptocurrency was so inviting to people? I also thought it would be fun to wear an LED mask during the COVID-19 winter holidays; it would be great for photos when strolling around the festivities.

Katie Dalziel COVID-19 has me wearing a mask whenever I’m out of the house. This has led to some communication challenges. No, I don’t want a bag, yes, I want that coffee to go. One way that I have dealt with some of the confusion is marshalling my meagre signing vocabulary.

In places where I regularly shop, we’ve now all got the yes, no, thank you down. This made me think about the skills that make the digital world more accessible. So, I was excited to learn and write about them in my article, Accessibility in Media.

Storytelling through writing and photography are my passions, and I enjoy being able to share my stories with others. Link offers a great platform for people to do so and that’s why I love being part of it. Contributing to a final product made by so many different people feels great. I love to write anywhere that grabs my attention, anywhere that inspires me.

Once I become interested or invested in something I put my creativity and passion into it.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

Elin Molenaar

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New Year, New You, New Us. That is what we are all

hoping for right? Our lockdown has officially stretched into 2021, and we all have isolation fatigue. Take hope as we are marching closer toward a break in the pandemic. Despite everything that might make this season of renewal seem stagnant, there is much to understand, work on, and look forward to.

In that spirit, we encourage you to...

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google this!

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Black Friday Black Friday sales have come and gone. The fear of COVID-19 spread created an increase in online shopping, though many thousands still exposed themselves to danger in search of an amazing deal.

BC is Ready for Vaccine Distribution Bonnie Henry said the province of BC would be ready by January to distribute the vaccine. With the Moderna and Pfizer Vaccines approved, some Canadians have already received a COVID-19 vaccination. However, at the expected rate of COVID-19 vaccine delivery in Canada, all Canadians might not be able to get a vaccine until next year or even further.

Yearly Overdose Deaths Five people are dying each day in BC because of overdose, and the 2020 total has long passed the 2019 total.

New Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, Sheila Malcolmson, has promised the new legislature will try to tackle the crisis, so expect much of the debate in provincial politics this year to focus on this subject.

Burnaby’s Big Power Burnaby MLA’s Anne Kang and Katrina Chen were both recently appointed to the provincial cabinet. Their appointments are recognition of Burnaby’s position as a major political battleground. It is apparent that the appointments of Kang as Minister of Advanced Education and Chen as Minister of State for Child Care are an attempt to secure the support of the young people and young families that call Burnaby home. Raj Chouhan, another MLA from Burnaby was also elected Speaker of the Assembly, becoming the first person of South-Asian decent to hold the office.

Joe Biden Takes Office Joe Biden will assume the Presidency of the United States on January 20th. Many observers expect a normalization in relations between Canada and the US after four years of trade disputes.

Movies and the Holiday Season The typical movie theatre rush we see around the holidays was significantly reduced

by COVID-19 precautions. Major motion pictures such as No Time to Die will likely be released in 2021.

Cover Your Face Face shields are no longer acceptable personal protective equipment on Translink vehicles. Riders will now have to wear face masks while on transit, at least until the pandemic is over.

Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort has reopened for the season. While social distancing protocols are in place, there are concerns that the desire for a break, the cold climate, and a failure to follow rules could lead to an outbreak on the slopes.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

Shred the Slopes

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the big disconnect.

Nelson Ellis

Since March, nearly everything that I’ve done has been on a screen; schoolwork, seeing friends, unwinding after a long day, and of course, shopping.

Moving the bulk of my life online isn’t all bad. The commute to school can’t be beat, no more spending hours trying to figure out plans with friends, and I there wasn't any shoving in a busy mall this past Christmas. When COVID is a thing of the past, I’m sure I’ll be doing a few more things in my life remotely.

Spending so much time in the virtual world has forced me to examine my relationship with technology, and in doing so, I’ve found it’s not all pixelated sunshine and virtual rainbows. There are absolutely ways the digital world gets in the way of my real life.

POP QUIZ! Think about a time you had to get up early for something like school or work. You set your alarm, fall asleep, and wake up to the “BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!” of your phone. Which of these seems more likely: A) You spring out of bed, ready to get the day started. (OK, maybe you crawl out of bed after hitting snooze a few times.)

I hate to say it, but 4/5 workdays I am B. It doesn’t even make sense; I mean, why look at my phone at 7:00 AM? What could be that exciting? It’s purely out of habit. I hardly even notice it anymore. It has just become another part of my routine. Is that OK? Is it healthy to fill my brain with all the noise of the world before I’ve even had my first sip of coffee? To compare my real life to the one people portray online before I even comb my hair?

OK, so now I’m out of bed. I’ve showered, gotten changed, and I’m heading out the door. Well, not until I decide what playlist I want to listen to as I walk to the bus stop. Wait… do I want music?

LINK | JANUARY 2021

B) You shut the alarm on your phone off and start scrolling social media.

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Maybe I’m more in the mood for a Podcast. Oh! My favourite True Crime show just released a new episode, better download it before I go and—Oh no! Now, I’m running late for the bus!

One brisk jog later and I am on board, albeit a little out of breath. Perfect!

Now I can plug my earbuds in and browse Reddit until I get to school.

I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with how my day began.

However, if I lived in a magical world where I wasn’t glued to my screen, I’d get out of bed on time, be early for my bus, and use the ride to prepare myself for the day ahead mentally. Can this be achieved with a little discipline? Yes. I know this because I frequently see people on Instagram broadcast how “in the moment” and “#OffTheGrid” they are.

With so much being done online, the border between “real” and “virtual” life seems to blur every day. In a world where social distancing and not interacting with new people is encouraged, it’s next to impossible to meet new people outside your regular circle. Once upon a time, it wasn’t uncommon for me to meet a new friend who had different beliefs and opinions. I always loved this because it encouraged me to re-examine myself and consider a different perspective. I don’t get that experience as much in the “virtual” world, where everything curated is designed to show me content I like and agree with, hooking me in as long as possible. This virtual bubble used to get burst anytime I had to interact with another person, but with the amount of time I spend alone increasing every day, it seems that the online bubble is becoming more like a tomb.

We all have that one parent or grandparent who can’t wait to tell you about how back in their day, there was no app for the weather, and you had to sacrifice the family dog if you wanted a sunny day to picnic, so I know it isn’t very original to critique our relationship with technology. However, since we are being forced to spend more time online, it’s essential to examine our relationship with tech. Things like Zoom, Facebook Messanger, or any number of virtual games aren’t bad things. They help us remain connected to friends and family, even during these challenging times. However, when it’s the ONLY way you can do so? That’s where it can feel like “virtual life” is replacing “real life.”

As we continue to navigate these strange days, it might be a good idea not just to social distance—but to social media distance as well.

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Disconnecting can help us feel more connected to ourselves.

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LINK | JANUARY 2021

"Disconnecting can help us feel more connected to ourselves"

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/the social dilemma

a wake up call (for us all) a review by Elin Molenaar In the past 10 years, every parent has probably had to say it to their kid at least once: “Put your phone away, we’re having dinner.” Nowadays, many people are consumed by social media and their phones and it seems like it’s only getting worse.

linkbcit.ca

In the Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma, co-founders and previous designers of companies such as Facebook, Google, Instagram, and Pinterest explain the side of social media that not everyone sees. Mixed with a relatable, daily life dialogue, the makers confront you with the behind-the-scenes of everything on your mobile device.

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platforms are fighting for your time and attention to be able to sell this and make as much money off of you as possible—the more ads you look at, the more money they make. The term “lab rats” is used when talking about users, and this is definitely the feel the documentary gives off.

The docu-drama explains how social media is way more than we think it is. There’s no such thing as privacy.

The interviewees make clear that human psychology is a big part of design these days. Social media is no longer a tool; it has its own goals and pursues these by using your psychology against you. Our natural feeling of wanting to feel connected is being optimized by the social platforms. It’s a shot of dopamine being triggered by a system that is designed to do exactly just that. It makes you keep picking up your phone, one notification after another. And guess what? It’s working!

Tristan Harris, former Google Design Ethicist, stressed that social media might be “free” but in the end it’s being paid for by advertisers. Social media

By tracking your actions, the algorithm creates models that predict what you’re going to do next. It knows how long you look at something, what you en-

An algorithm is designed for business success, but this does not take into account the effect of being connected with everyone all the time. The documentary shows statistics like a large increase in self harm among young girls. It shows very well that many people feel the need to seek approval from others all the time because there is a feeling of having to meet certain standards that are being portrayed online.

“If you want to control the people in your country, Facebook is the best tool,” said one of the interviewees. The documentary makes it very apparent that all of our information is in the hands of CEOs like Mark Zuckerberg.

The conclusion of the documentary is clear: the law is way behind and there needs to be regulation on what major companies like Facebook can do. Social media might not have been created with bad intentions, but the business model is problematic. Technology will only integrate itself more into our society—it is indispensible.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

joy looking at, and calculates what your next actions will be. Realizing all of this is going on can make this a hard documentary to watch.

At the same time, it’s a great wake up call. It teaches us that our brains are being manipulated and rewired at the same time.

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BRIGHTENING THE WORLD WITH AN FACE MASK

LED a review by Karlynn Griffin

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During the winter holidays, I usually emblazon my house with Christmas decorations and show it off by having a party. Unfortunately, I can't celebrate by having a party this year due to COVID-19. Therefore, I have decided I will become the Holiday decoration by getting an LED mask!

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Was the LED Mask a Good Idea?

Before I buy an item, I like to get multiple uses out of it. I feel like I'm wasting my money if I only can use it once.

Yes, technically, I would use it once a year when I decided to become a human Christmas ornament during the winter holidays; however, an LED mask would be great to wear during other holidays like Nowruz, Halloween, Diwali, and New Years. It will also be great to wear during occasions, for example, birthdays, weddings, and dancing practices.

When the sun goes down, and I want to brighten my night, it's excellent for biking or walking, so vehicles and other road users can see me easily. When I'm wearing it, I don't have to worry about the bus driving past me and not stopping, or getting hit by a car when I am walking on the side streets.

I thought it would bring more cheer to 2020 since this year doesn't have the best reputation. I also had in mind that it might inspire people to wear masks more often during the pandemic if it was fashionable and functional.

The Positive Attributes I like this mask because it has seven different colours and several different settings. I can have any of the seven colours on, have white flashing, or have colours flashing after one another at different speeds. The battery is chargeable and comes with a USB cable (but no plug).

The mask has adjustable ear straps, and the nose area has a built-in metal piece for customizing to my nose's shape. The colour of the straps matches the colour of the LED fabric, making it look stylish, and it covers most of my face. The LED fibre optic lights in the mask don't get hot, it's not heavy to wear, and it's safe (meaning it won't electrocute you). The lights last about 20–25 years, which is great because I paid about $20 CAD for the mask, so I am getting my monies worth. There's also a six month warranty, so if it's defective or breaks soon after getting it, you can get a replacement! Finally, the mask is (surprisingly) washable! It comes with instructions to ensure you don't damage the electrical components when cleaning.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

The USB port is located on the mask's side, and I like how small it is because it looks just like a tag. When it's fully charged, it lasts about 10 hours, and the charging time is about 2 hours. A great feature is that it comes with a filter and filter pocket, for additional protection.

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Unmasking the Negatives

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There are some features about the LED mask that I do not like, and the main one is that the mask doesn't cover your chin. This is my preference, though; I like to wear my mask where it's half a centimetre down from my eye to under my chin. Also, the mask is stiff and a bit thick, resulting in having gaps on the sides, which air can escape from. I don't want that to happen because there might be droplets when I'm breathing or talking. The droplets can travel to other people, and I want to protect them and myself. I also find the filter quite small; I wish it was the same size as the mask. Another problem is the washing,

which needs to be done very carefully by hand.

This is time consuming. You can't get the USB port wet, or it may stop working entirely.

Another issue? The lights aren't replaceable. If they go out sooner than expected, there isn't anything I can do (maybe if I had an electrical background I could fix it, but I don't). Lastly, since it's winter, cold air will be on the outside of the mask, and warm air from my breathing will be inside. What does that make? Condensation! I'm worried droplets from the condensation wil enter the USB port and damage it. To ease my worries, I would probably wear another mask underneath it to protect it from the moisture.

Overall, I like the mask. I think making it a bit longer would improve the design, but everyone's face has a different shape, so it may fit someone else perfectly. When I bought it, there was only one size, but if there were different sizes, then that would greatly improve the quality. I would say this mask is leaning towards the fashion side a bit more than the function due to the gaps on the sides. In the end, will I keep this mask? Yes, it's fun and has great qualities. Still, I'll double up with another mask, one a bit more protective. I like to cover 75% of my face, not just 60%.

LINK   |   JANUARY 2021

Should I say Goodbye to the LED mask?

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BROKE-ASS BUYING

PS4 VS XBOX VS SWITCH None of us can afford the brand new and extremely expensive PlayStation 5 or XBOX Series X right now; it just isn't in a student budget. However, what students can look at buying for themselves now is the suddenly much more affordable PlayStation 4, XBOX One, or Nintendo Switch. These alternatives provide for a better priced console with some still-incredibly-fun games. While these consoles will be phased out over time, they are still getting updates and new games for a little longer.

PlayStation 4

$600 Best Games: God of War, Marvel’s Spiderman, The Last of Us Part 2 The PS4 runs at a slightly better frame rate than the XBOX One, and it has a larger harddrive and more exclusive games. While the PS4 and the XBOX One are similar, I would recommend the PS4 simply because of its superior technology and wider selection of games. However, because of its superior tech performance, it is also more costly than the XBOX One.

Nintendo Switch

XBOX One

The Nintendo Switch often gets dismissed as a child’s console, but it is also the console I would recommend to couples who live together in isolation. The portable style, the light-heartedness of most games, and the larger focus on cooperative gameplay make it the most enjoyable console to play with a partner. This console is Nintendo’s most recent offering, but it has a similar price to the older consoles. The only downside is that this console does not have access to many of the major blockbuster games that the others have.

The primary reasons get an XBOX One is to play your old XBOX and XBOX 360 games, to play the XBOX exclusives, and to play games online with your other friends who have an XBOX. The XBOX has a wider selection of streaming services and video watching options than the PS4, and it's more affordable. If you're planning on using this console for streaming, I would recommend the XBOX One.

$300 Best Games: Mario Kart 8, Animal Crossing, Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

$450 Best Games: Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Sea of Thieves

LINK | JANUARY 2021

If video gaming is part of your social time, but your budget can’t withstand the top tier consoles, there are some possibilities to keep you and yours entertained through the holidays, during the pandemic and beyond.

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creation defines me an art feature by Takshita Kumar

What defines you as a person are not your highs and lows but how you handle those ups and downs.

Every now and then we all face situations where our “handling� abilities take off on a long vacation and what we are left with is self-doubt. We seek solutions in people, persons, and places. What I discovered is that the answer is right inside you, all you have to do is find a way to pour yourself out. To express. Express through words or art, through dancing. Express through anything that allows you to release your anger, love, frustration, even boredom! For me it was art. I started creating. These may look like a combination of colors, lines and curves but, to me they tell a story of times I have felt the most. My art has helped me mature to appreciate my past without putting conditions on the future, allowing to find myself in the present. Even though I am still on my journey, still building and finding my style I value each step. It helps me express my feelings, helps me escape into a space that I created one that is my own.

linkbcit.ca

@ismenona

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Social Grouping in Video Games Jonah Van Driesum

“Babe, come cuddle!”

“Not right now, the boys need me in COD.” This sentence has become a common theme on Tik Tok, joking about men who love Call of Duty Warzone (COD) more than their girlfriends. While a joke, our lack of interaction in recent months has led to many people turning to video games for their “socially distanced” life. For the most part these games have been about hanging out with friends, but they have also helped people create new relationships and have even created a few celebrities. Games like Fortnite and World of Warcraft, with their heavy focus on playing with others, have been the dominant games of the pandemic so far.

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COD has been one of the most successful games of the pandemic. Its well-known game play formula and brand, easy matchmaking, fun combat, and free to play model have made it the most downloaded battle royal ever. The constant updates and competitive nature have many friends playing the game almost nonstop. Some companies have launched competitions that allow your average players to compete for prize money. Meanwhile the companies make money by charging other enthusiasts to watch the games online. The popularity of the game has created several new streaming celebrities, and Warzone even has an entire section of the YouTube home page devoted to related videos.

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COD is not the only game keeping people occupied during the lockdown; it shares the pandemic stage with other popular games, such as Among Us. Within these game playing groups, subgroups have been forming based on other common interests, with political affiliations leading the way and with their own language terms and practices for teaming up with new people. One significant contingent of people has joined the TRUMP and MAGA groups in COD, allowing

people with similar worldviews to play the game together.

It's not uncommon to encounter players using the platform to campaign while playing.

Social battle games such as Among Us have spawned both mass social followings and political action. Reddit and TikTok have been flooded with memes and videos telling stories from the game, and the game is even changing our language. For example, the term SUS, short for suspect has entered our cultural lexicon because of this game. Similar to COD, Among Us has been a connection point for some major politicians. Jagmeet Singh and AOC have even partnered up to play the game together. The relevance of Among Us comes partially from its setup: an unknown infected imposter hunting and killing the other players. Sound familiar?

The affordability of Among Us, (it costs just 5 dollars), the ease of play, the large number of players, and the hilarious situations that unfold, have made it the essential game for friends. It is the perfect example of a viral game taking over and creating a moment of connection between millions of people. Its connectivity in both small social circles and to a larger group of people, creates a pathway for change as more political campaigning and business marketing occurs in video games.

The time where video games were a separate part of our modern culture has passed. Once viewed as something just for bored teenagers in the basement, they have become truly part of the mainstream. The fanfare around the release of big video game titles like God of War, COD, and Cyberpunk 2077 has become as intense as other cultural events. With our isolation continuing and an expectation of reduced social gatherings for the next year, we can probably anticipate game developers will have some more social game ideas brewing to keep us entertained well into the future.

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LINK | JANUARY 2021

media's power to shift perspectives

linkbcit.ca

Chantel Tanaka

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None of us really know how much we’ve been influenced by the media. We can’t really put a scale to the effect it has on our lives because for so many of us, growing up around it has just become the norm; it’s hard to picture what life without it could be like.

Scientists say our ability to adapt is related to our inner need to survive, but we haven’t really stopped to think about the blind spots from quickly adapting to stimuli like digital media. As we’ve developed into adults, our brains have automated so many processes we go through, breathing, tying our shoes and more. For both examples, most don’t stop to think of the step-by-step way of doing them. Overtime, scientists are weary that we will come to a point where our brains take in information without thinking too much about it. They’re worried we’ll automate our critical thinking skills.

The idea of automating critical thinking feels a little bit far fetched, but our brains are geared towards reducing our cognitive load (the amount of time and attention needed to finish a task), and this creates shortcuts for the way we take in information from the internet. This way of processing information, coupled with our brain’s great ability to give into confirmation bias, will draw our perspective into seeing things in one way. If something confirms our biases, we are extra likely to believe it’s true, and if it doesn’t, we believe that it’s false.

Social media apps are a perfect example of this because they are built to reward our biases. The algorithms pull together content it knows you like and as time goes on, your social media will be filled with just the things you approve of. On the surface this doesn’t seem harmful at all, but for every conscious decision we make, there is a subconscious response your brain has. So, if consciously you see and like the things that reward your biases, subconsciously your brain is likely to develop an immediate sense of rejection to

things that don’t feed into those biases. This effect is most evident when it comes to politics and how small disagreements on political views can quickly escalate to heated arguments, where the left and the right see each other as liars because their opposing views don’t feed into their biases.

Film and TV shows have a great deal of influence on how we see the world. An easy example of this would be the airing of D. W. Griffith’s 1915 movie, Birth of a Nation. It not only reflected the openly racist attitudes that prevailed in American society, but it enabled people to act on their racism more. Richard Brody, a movie listings editor from the New Yorker argued that “the real crime was not Griffith’s, but the world’s: the fact that most viewers knew little about slavery and little about Reconstruction and little about Jim Crow and little about the Klan, and were all too ready to swallow the very worst of the movie without question.”

His argument here prompts me to wonder what effect the media we visually consume has on us, when we don’t take the time to question the purpose behind it and whether it accurately depicts reality. It’s an enabling argument that offers viewers a sense of responsibility for what they watch.

Mainstream movies and shows today seem to have a greater sense of social responsibility. In part this is because the entertainment business is geared towards providing what’s in demand. However, this heightened sense of social responsibility is owed to the growing number of social activists who act as catalysts to social change. This expanded scope in purpose for the industry has allowed us as people to develop a greater sense of empathy for each other.

Our dependency on media for entertainment, information, and connection has risen dramatically over the years, but we must stop to think of the purpose behind some of these forms of media. Not being cognisant of the intention behind it poses a danger because our brains have blind spots that make us easily fall prey to misleading perspectives. In the grand scheme of things, I’d argue media has been good to us, but in some cases, it has brought out the worst in us.

LINK | JANUARY 2021

Imagine not having podcasts, audiobooks, Netflix, Instagram, Tik Tok or whatever else that’s kept us hinged to our sanity for much of the COVID-19 pandemic. Imagine disconnecting from everything. I don’t mean temporarily, where you disconnect for a lovely weekend camping, I mean not being plugged in at all. The full extent of being “unplugged” is unimaginable to most because media has encroached our lives for everything, entertaining us, distracting us, connecting us, and informing us. In the true nature of being human, we’ve adapted to all forms of media as they were churned out.

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BEHIND THE SCREEN: THE ROLE OF AN INFLUENCER MARIA DIMENT

Over the past several years, social media has become less personal and more professional. The rise of influencers and other social media celebrities paved the way to a new form of income. Following YouTube, Instagram is one of the largest social media platforms of our decade.

linkbcit.ca

The social media side hustle craze set in when the money-making potential of YouTube was realized. At first, the platform was dominated by individuals who made videos for fun. Now, more and more YouTubers start channels for the purpose of fame and income. In a way, social media is becoming less personal and, therefore, less genuine. Profit has become a greater priority than sharing information and creating communities.

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Instagram is now no different than YouTube, and is filled with social media celebrities and influencers. Unfortunately, the Instagram influencer community has built a reputation of being more “fake” than other social media platforms.

From pretending to be on vacation, to pretending to be rich, to photoshopping the entire photo until nothing is real, falsifying photo's has never been easier. Instagram influencers’ ability to manipulate their reality with a photo and feeding off of likes and comments from those who compare themselves to what isn’t real has given them a questionable reputation. Influencers, especially those on Instagram, also often get hated on for promoting products such as appetite suppressants.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of people who strive to be a good influence on their audience. Take the fashion and style influencer community for example.

If you aspire to be an influencer, there is no guide to follow. You just take the first step and keep walking.

Fashion is self-expression, and in the fashion community influencers support this and more. Fashion influencers inspire the larger community with styling videos, outfits, How-To’s and more. They don’t stop at simply posting content. They engage with each other and those who follow them, liking their posts, giving “shout outs” to influencers who inspire their style, and uplifting others with support and encouragement in the comment section. I have never seen one influencer bring another down in this niche. I quickly realized

that your biggest supporters can be those who you don’t know personally.

As humans, a sense of community and connection is vital for our social health. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, this physical closeness and connection with others disappeared, leaving many of us lonely and struggling to cope.

Influencers became crucial in helping the world maintain its mental and social health.

The role they play is in not only promoting a product like most people think, they also create communities, become role models, and become someone for people to look to when they need a distraction from their own lives. Not only

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As someone who’s entered this community with no clue how and where to start my journey and only a dream to guide me, this community has been supportive and encouraging from the start.

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that, influencers uplift and encourage others within their communities.

Indeed, there are Instagram celebrities who match the negative stereotypes, creating the illusion that being an influencer is as easy as posting pretty pictures of yourself. Still. there are still those who rose to fame through hard work and commitment. Emma Leger is just one of many Vancouver based fashion/style influencers. Like others, she started from square one and paved her own path. She started with a fashion blog alongside posting her outfits and fashion journey on Instagram. Her commitment to content-delivery (posting on a regular basis) contributed to her growth. Eventually she began working with brands, which is how influencers make money from social media. Emma’s dedication led to her large audience of 300,000+ followers and a full-time job as an influencer.

Each influencer’s story is unique. Some start as bloggers who do it for fun, some start on Instagram, posting pictures for fun, and others start on different platforms such as YouTube. If you aspire to be an influencer, there is no guide to follow. You just take the first step and keep walking.

The first and most important step to growing a social media platform is to answer one very simple and very personal question: “why do I want this?”

When I began my journey in March last year, I was still working on answering this question. I asked myself this question so many times that it became my purpose.

Why do I want a platform? Why do I want to influence others? Though my answer is very personal, I can share this: I want to be known so that I can inspire, bring together, and create a community.

Being an influencer isn’t as easy as it may seem. It’s essentially a job and takes time, commitment, and dedication.

When looking at others, remember to not overlook the hard work that goes on behind the screen.

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A lot of what an influencer does is planning and creating content, organizing the feed, scheduling posts and stories, engaging with other influencers and followers, reaching out to brands, and coordinating brand deals.

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It’s easy to underestimate the effort it takes to grow a platform. We now live in an age where social media has transitioned into an online portfolio or an income for some. Although this shift has taken away the personal aspect of social media, it has replaced it with communities and the ability to connect with more people than we would meet in real life.

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LINK | JANUARY 2021