Brief #7 | Exploiting a News Story

Clout or Bringing Awareness?

Exploitation is nothing unheard of in today’s social environment. More and more today influencers are exploiting their personal experiences to gain views and likes. Just recently, TikToker Jack Wright told the story of him being sexually assaulted at a party by fellow TikToker, Sienna Mae. To preface, I am not here to invalidate anyone’s experiences. I just want to ask the question, what was the point of sharing this case so publicly? Of course, it could simply be to expose a bad person, but when someone constantly uses their life to promote themselves and make money it is hard to draw a line between when honesty starts and exploitation ends. 

A huge case in which an influencer exploited a news story for views was Logan Paul. Logan Paul and his brother, Jake, were known for using their personal problems as a way to stir up drama and in return get more views and make more money. Previous to the incident I am about to mention, Logan and Jake had used a relationship with a girl to make diss tracks about each other. As annoying as it was, it was innocent enough. Everyone was informed and kept in the loop before each post. It was just very obvious they were doing it all for publicity.

January 1, 2018, Logan released a written apology, shown below. 

Dear Internet, pic.twitter.com/42OCDBhiWg

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) January 2, 2018

Logan was presented with a lot of backlash from people stating that they thought the apology was self-serving and only apologizing to repair his image. Game of Thrones star, Sophie Turner had this to say about the apology.

The following day, January 2, 2018, Logan uploaded an apology video to Twitter. His second apology continued to get backlash for the same reasons as the first. People couldn’t begin to understand how someone could go as far as recording, making jokes, making thumbnails, editing the video, and uploading it without seeing the magnitude of the issue people would have with that content.

So sorry. pic.twitter.com/JkYXzYsrLX

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) January 2, 2018

Other influencers, such as Rebecca Black, had this to say about the situation. 

The amount of personal + social unawareness Logan Paul has displayed in THAT video is mind blowing to me. How could one w such power and influence have the audacity to put something so thoughtless online? You have potentially intensified an entire family's grief beyond measure.

— Rebecca Black (@MsRebeccaBlack) January 2, 2018

Logan Paul took a break from Youtube for a while after the video. He recently has seen a career change and has started boxing. Since his break back in 2019, he has posted videos here and there in waves. After his boxing match with Floyd Mayweather, he didn’t post a Youtube video for 7 months. It wasn’t until a month ago when he did he post again. Viewers can’t help but wonder if the career change is just for clout, or if he truly is trying to turn a new leaf?