4 minute read
Willa Bennett
Meet Willa. She’s a content creator determined to empower young individuals on a global scale. She’s written numerous articles and produced videos about adolescent identity, inspired by her original research. “In 2017, I published original research on Generation Z, looking at the ways in which this demographic interacts with emerging media platforms and branding initiatives, and focusing on the relationship between media and adolescent identity. For a month of this project, I actually attended an all-girls middle school and observed what it might be like to be a teenager given this era’s zeitgeist. This interdisciplinary project changed the way I thought about my career, and cemented my love for, and commitment to this demographic.”
When I asked Willa about where her passion for writing came to life, she gave me a simple and refreshing response. It all started with her own diary during her adolescence. “I told my diary everything, without filter. I would spend most afternoons in middle school just writing in my journal. I then eventually went to Sarah Lawrence College and pursued Journalism [and Dance], which only enriched my relationship to and passion for storytelling. That being said, I’ve recently pivoted to various social media platforms and video formats because I’ve found the social and video spheres of the digital media landscape to have the largest reach amongst young audiences. I am more dedicated to empowering young people, than I am to one certain medium or social platform.”
Although social media is quickly evolving and becoming more inclusive, there is definitely still room for improvement. Willa’s thought provoking pieces continue to give voices to those who need it. “Although much of mainstream media has noticeably improved since I was a teenager, I find there still to be such a huge lack of diverse voices present. I try to make every piece of content the most meaningful and empowering it can be, which often means giving the platform to others entirely.”
Willa’s recently published piece for Bustle, about a fourteen-year-old that was told in school that she was “too young [as a teenager] to really understand her sexuality”, has become one of the more important pieces in her impressive portfolio, starting an unprecedented conversation about adolescent sexuality on Twitter and Facebook. “When I pitched the idea for the article, I saw nothing at all “controversial” about it; Everyone, regardless of age, deserves the space to probe at their evolving identities without judgment. Sexuality isn’t static, nor dependent on a particular timeframe. This essay has been up since the beginning of Pride month, and I’ve received really strong reactions, from people (even close to me) about their firm and stubborn belief that a teenager is simply too young to know how they identify. It just further proves how needed this type of content is in the world.”
Especially right now, there is a substantial amount of content encouraging young people to “come out” which is of course amazing, however, when many of these teenagers put their phones down and have conversations about their identities, many are faced with parents, politicians, and school systems that do not know how to respond to these conversations and best support this educated and empowered generation. I really believe that media can be doing more to support young people.
From Joan Didion to Toni Morrison and Maya Angelou, to Meredith Talusan, Willa draws inspiration from writers who have shared their own journeys. In addition, she draws inspiration from the real people she meets and interacts with. “I have a strong network of teens around the world that I speak to frequently, and constantly check in with to see how they feel certain publications, specific articles, and events in the news. In addition to these conversations, I analyze data to see which topics on which platforms are resonating with Generation Z at any certain point in time and make informed decisions based on my findings. Both this data and these personal conversations drive my personal work. A teen DMed me last night telling me that a video I was in actually gave them the confidence to come out to their parents, and it just reminded me that one Instagram live, Tweet, or article really can make a difference.”
Q: Where can LW readers find your work?
A: “I post most of what I create to my personal Instagram and Twitter, and make it a point to respond to every direct message sent to me. I have bylines for Bustle, Elite Daily, Romper, Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, and have hosted various reoccurring shows on Snapchat Discover, Instagram, and YouTube. You can also always direct message me if you see something missing from the digital media landscape and I’ll do my best to help amplify that.”
As for Willa's future plans?
“I just want teenagers around the world to know it’s okay to be themselves. The process of discovering one’s self is far more complicated, personal, and intimate than it seems to appear online, and I’m trying to make the internet a safer and more inclusive place. I spent a great amount of my adolescence struggling to feel seen and heard by the world around me. I am determined to change the way that young people are perceived, by amplifying their voices and stories.
I hope to publish a book about my recent research, and launch some new, and more personal, video series.
Story by Morgan Eckel | Photography by Emily Dubin
