R6

Jenna Marbles

The case studies in Marwick and Boyd's essay document how celebrities use social media, specifically Twitter, to interact with fans and other celebrities, and to promote their own brand. "Theresa Senft defines micro-celebrity as a technique that involves people amping up their popularity over the Web using techniques like video, blogs, and social networking sites" (4). Social media has brought us countless "micro celebrities" due to its accessibility and user friendly format. We flock to these 'micro celebrities' because they often have the attractiveness, talent, and lavish lifestyle of actual celebrities and they seem more relatable to us because they got their "fame" from the same social media platforms we all use.

In my case study I will analyze the Twitter of YouTube "celebrity" Jenna Marbles. Jenna started her career on YouTube making funny/satirical videos. Jenna's positive personality, creative videos, and adorable pets are just some of the reasons for her 17 million subscribers. To quote Marwick, "celebrity is successfully practiced when it provides the illusion of backstage‘, giving the impression of uncensored glimpses into the lives of the very famous." (2) Jenna Marbles' Twitter gives her followers a glimpse 'backstage', into her daily life and the interactions between her and her fans.

Jenna uses Twitter to promote her YouTube videos and her Sirius XM radio show. Those tweets are usually the same each time and feel very automatic. But the majority of her Twitter is an extension of her eccentric personality.

Jenna uses her platform to express her thoughts on serious issues and provides a place for her fans to discuss their opinions with each other.

Work Cited:
Marbles, Jenna (@Jenna_Marbles). "His name is..." 20 April 2017. Tweet.
Marbles, Jenna (@Jenna_Marbles). "I'm literally going to cry..." 31 March 2017. Tweet
Marbles, Jenna (@Jenna_Marbles). "A new #youtube15..."  31 March 2017. Tweet
Marbles, Jenna (@Jenna_Marbles). "If you don't hear from..." 29 Jan 2017
Marbles, Jenna (@Jenna_Marbles). "It's honestly..." 20 March 2017. Tweet
Marwick, Alice, and boyd, Danah, “To See and Be Seen: Celebrity Practice on Twitter,” Convergence May 2011 vol. 17 no. 2 139-158