Social Experiment
I recently watched the documentary "The American Meme" which profiles a handful of social media mega stars including DJ Khaled, Paris Hilton and a handful of others. While the documentary was well done in its simplicity, the content sent me into a black hole. I was left wondering what's to come of this social experiment called social media. Let's be honest, some of the content that's being shared nowadays is out of control. No matter what walk of life you're from you will find something that pushes your limits. But, I'm sure there were folks who considered the radio and the television a fad at the time. And I'm sure they thought that civilization would be ruined at some level also.
Regardless of whether social media comes crashing down or becomes the norm for future generations, one thing is certain, it will morph and evolve just like every other media. There will be those that find themselves at the top and there will be a machine looking to monetize it at all times.
What I found most interesting is that the fame bestowed upon the individuals in the film happened to them almost by happenstance (with the exception of Paris Hilton of course). They didn't come to the market first to be a social media influencer, rather they started by creating and sharing content that was true to them. It wasn't until fame had catapulted these individuals in to stardom that they decided to start monetizing their personal brands.
If you're an entrepreneur entering the market looking to build an audience and monetize a brand you need to create and share first before you can monetize. Build trust and loyalty. Create a giving platform. Connect with people that want/need what you offer. Regardless what the future of media will be, you must always remain true to yourself, your audience and your message.