"Chasing Fame" is the primary episode of a brand new CBS Studies documentary collection "Are the Children All Proper?" which explores the transformational shifts confronted by at present's youth, in their very own phrases. Watch it within the video participant above, or stream it stay Sunday, April 24 at 8 p.m. ET or on demand on the CBS Information app and Paramount+.
Jiggy Turner is probably the most well-known particular person in West Virginia. Or a minimum of, he thinks he's.
"I imply social media-wise, I am probably the most well-known," he stated. "However there's Steve Harvey. He is fairly well-known too."
At 16, Turner amassed over 600,000 followers on the social media platform TikTok. And that is simply within the final two years. His sudden recognition on the app has led to profitable model offers and alternatives to behave on display. By all counts, Turner resides the dream.
"Each child needs to be well-known," he joked. "Who needs to work a 9-to-5?"
Turner is a part of a rising wave of youth influencers eschewing conventional profession paths in favor of an opportunity at movie star. In a latest survey, 54% of Era Z stated they'd prefer to turn into an influencer, and 86% expressed curiosity in posting social media content material for cash.
However lawmakers throughout the nation are involved that in style social media apps may very well be making a psychological well being disaster for America's youth. In his State of the Union, President Biden referred to Huge Tech's "nationwide experiment" on kids. In March, a bipartisan group of state attorneys normal launched an investigation into TikTok's affect on youngsters and youths as a part of a shopper safety initiative. It is the most recent enlargement of efforts to enact higher safety for youths on-line.
"As kids and youths already grapple with points of hysteria, social strain, and melancholy, we can not enable social media to additional hurt their bodily well being and psychological well-being," stated Massachusetts Legal professional Normal Maura Healey, one of many AGs main the investigation.
In September 2021, leaked paperwork from Fb revealed knowledge on dangerous results of the corporate's Instagram app on younger customers, with teen ladies bearing the brunt. (Fb's mother or father firm, which has since been renamed Meta, stated Instagram "helps many teenagers who're combating a number of the hardest points they expertise.") One results of the whistleblower's revelations was the introduction of the Children On-line Security Act, a invoice that may require the businesses to create options that shield youngsters from the worst of social media.
Layla Ann VanHooser has firsthand data of the darker aspect of social media. The 13-year-old gained roughly 100,000 followers on the app Musical.ly, which predated TikTok. At first, the app was loads of enjoyable. However as soon as Musical.ly was bought by TikTok, VanHooser's fan base shifted, and he or she struggled to discover a new viewers that may join along with her content material.
The vast majority of her followers left constructive feedback. "I might hear, oh my gosh, this lady's so humorous," she recalled. However a lot of her new followers had lower than variety issues to say, calling her "cringe" or insulting her look. On the time, she was solely 11 years outdated, and the feedback stung. "My mother and father advised me I wasn't allowed to have a look at the feedback," she stated. (In contrast to TikTok, Musical.ly didn't limit content material for customers beneath 13.)
VanHooser has used humor to snigger off the bullies, a way that has resonated along with her followers. "As soon as, I bought "no eyebrows," stated VanHooser. So she made a TikTok with Sharpie-drawn eyebrows taped onto her fance. "It was like, now my eyebrows are right here," she joked. "It was actually humorous. Plus, I do have eyebrows! These feedback made no sense."
Now that VanHooser is 13, the minimal age for posting movies on TikTok, she is utilizing her comedy and dance to broadcast her anti-bullying message. "TikTok is for everybody," she beamed. "That is the message I've for different ladies."
Even with the nasty feedback, when requested if she wish to be well-known, VanHooser does not miss a beat.
"I need to be well-known. I might be so excited if I bought the blue mark," she stated, referring to the tiny image of verification that the app bestows on its most outstanding customers.
Scaling again social media use amongst teenagers might show to be a herculean process. Roughly 37.3 million American teenagers use TikTok. The typical TikTok consumer spends over 24 hours watching content material on the app each month.
"I can not sit by means of a film for the lifetime of me," stated VanHooser. However she stated she will be able to simply spend 4 hours on the app in a single sitting. "I simply sit there and scroll." Even with the occasional bully, the app, she stated, merely cannot be beat.
A setback — and a brand new starting
After two years of increase his follower base, Jiggy's account was banned, seemingly in a single day. A self-described "hacker" focused him with a bot assault, constantly flagging Jiggy's account for violations till ultimately TikTok merely closed the account. Then the hacker began a brand new account.
"He principally stole my pictures, my movies," Jiggy stated. "After which he began taking cash for promos."
Jiggy's inbox was quickly flooded with offended emails from would-be purchasers, confused that they hadn't seen the promised promo on Jiggy's account. The hacker, he stated, had stolen their cash. "I really feel prefer it's actually broken my repute."
However Jiggy continues to be optimistic. He is notified TikTok of the incident and is making an attempt to recuperate his account. Within the meantime, he is began a new account. To date it is simply 50,000 followers, nevertheless it's choosing up steam quick. Jiggy says it has been an necessary lesson.
"In loads of methods, beginning over has been liberating. Like, I can publish no matter I would like. I do not simply have to maintain my outdated followers joyful."
His new followers relate to the brand new Jiggy, who's older and wiser than when he first began out on TikTok two years in the past.
"It has been arduous, nevertheless it's a chance too," he stated. He is nonetheless assured he'll make it.