Contemporary high school students are part of a generation sometimes called the “social network generation” because of the central position that social networking sites have in their lives.
Blogging is becoming a career as people integrate websites like Youtube or Blogspot into their everyday routines. These sites give content creators the opportunity to channel their inner qualities in front of an unlimited audience, for free. Unlike regular business ventures, blogging can start without the pressure of making money. Some bloggers start their websites as passionate hobbies and are then able to kickstart bigger businesses once they build an audience.
Cassey Ho, who runs a blog called Blogilates, shares tips on fitness and health while using her blog to voice positive reinforcement to people struggling with weight or health. Ho started by posting videos and has since branched out into television features and merchandise.
Jenn Im is a popular Youtube fashion guru, who regularly posts videos commenting on up and coming trends and fashion tips on her channel “Clothesencounters.” Im, who started her channel with her best friend in high school, now has a full blown career as a blogger and has rapidly collected over 800,000 subscribers on Youtube. Now a respected fashion figure, Im is invited to notable fashion shows and has expressed interest in creating her own clothing line.
According to Alice Hong, Im has become a valuable source.
“I love watching fashion blog videos like Jenn Im’s because they give me a sense of familiarity,” the Whitney High junior said in an interview with JSR. “It’s hard to relate high fashion to my everyday closet, but Jenn Im’s tips really open my imagination within the realm of reality. I really appreciate that about fashion blogging, and I find myself going straight to Youtube for any kinds of problems now.”
This recent video from Jenn Im accumulated almost 30,000 views in its first six hours after going online.