Social Media and Celebrity Death: Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough
As much as I love the ever changing world of social media, there are times that I cannot stomach the grandstanding that is done when there is a tragedy. I noticed articles being written such as “How to Make a Michael Jackson playlist for your iPod” or “How to Dance Like Michael Jackson“. These articles were not written with any sincerity. If they were, it was hard to tell. Everyone was in it for a piece of the Google ranking action.
Did I become a part of this by stating my thoughts here? I’m not sure, but the whole situation became a little over the top when I saw “RIP Billy Mays” as a top trending topic on Twitter today. Even more surprising? Apparently Billy Mays’ son made the announcement about his father’s passing today – on Twitter.
Death is a private thing. At least that’s what I’ve always thought. Ed McMahon’s death early last week was covered tastefully. There was just enough in the media to let us know a great man had passed — but not so much that we started to feel that we were infringing on a family’s private grief.
I wrote my own thoughts on this who social media invades the privacy of death thing on the Examiner.com today. Perhaps I’m just a little jazzed about the whole “death is a trending topic” thing, but these are my thoughts…
The media was unusually respectful when Farrah Fawcett passed away earlier this week. Later that day, news of Micheal Jackson’s death turned into a social media frenzy. Farrah’s painful death was a mere blip on the radar compared to the rumors, speculation and often grossly inaccurate reports of Jackson’s death.
Death became a trending topic on Twitter by early evening. The Twitter stream was jammed with hash tags representing groups who were either bashing or praising the quirky pop legend. Those who picked on him in the past were now in deep mourning over his sudden death. Perez Hilton, who runs one of the most controversial gossip websites, jumped the proverbial gun when he announced that Jackson was probably just pulling a prank. When Jackson’s death was confirmed, Hilton did not apologize. He just kept on drawing an almost morbid interest to photos and up to the minute reports about Michael Jackson’s death.
Read the remainder of this article on the Examiner.com
I myself know sex addiction can be extremely isolating. You feel like you are all by yourself. No one understands what its like to be you. If you just need somebody to talk to I am a good listener.
I feel the same way pretty much. I think it was sad that Farrah’s death seemed to fade away (we really didn’t have time to take it in) as soon as Michael Jackson died. All the speculation is just that…speculation. Let’s wait for details why do we really ‘need’ to know everything? Let the family grieve without us for awhile. My goodness
I must agree that it does leave an uncomfortable feeling, but is it par for the course in our media/IT obsessed times?
Jimmy Buffett song “Cuban Crime of Passion”
“cuz that’s what the people like to read (tweet,blog,watch) about, up in America”
Amy–I do agree that MJ was a huge public figure so it is almost expected to have a life..and a death…scrutinized. But it’s almost relentless and the outpouring of rumors (i.e. Perez Hilton) is just disturbing. I guess I’m just more sensitive to death and I need to toughen up…lol
I agree with Amy with regards to the exhibitionism/voyeurism that is an inherent part of the tool that is Twitter. However, bear in mind that Twitter just takes that to another (heightened) level. I liken it to rubbernecking – folks have been doing it for decades and will continue to do so. On Twitter, it just becomes more focused for whatever period of time it takes hold and then folks move on to another topic. The BL: with the loss of decorum and manners comes an attitude of free will and anything goes. Twitter just allows this to be taken to a new level.
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Provoking article. Interesting that our minds are now unconsciously “conditioned” to compare whose death is more interesting. I do agree about many bloggers tendencies to surreptitiously convert pain and suffering into Google rankings.
Blondie, I agree that death should be private, for me. But in the land of social media everything from childbirth (@earthXplorer) to death (@youngbillymays) seems to be worthy of a trending topic. That cuts to the heart of the exhibitionistic/voyeuristic nature of the medium. I suppose there are some whose grief is eased or joys are heightened by sharing the blow by blow of the experience. Hey, if it works, who are we to judge. We see bloggers who are chronicling the aftermath of the loss of a child. If that diary of dispair helps their road to recovery, so be it.
Michael Jackson is another story. His death is colossal. As famous as Farrah and Ed were, they were not the ‘queen’ or ‘king’ of anything. He is up there with Elvis and John Lennon. In shaping our culture he became public domain. And when tragedy is added to the mix it only fuels the hashtag fire.
Twitter is about the news of the moment, and there will always be those that milk that moment. It is as much a part of that landscape as the good we have seen come out of that space – the help after the Nielson’s tragic plane crash, finding a kidney for a sick child, etc.
Let’s face it, Michael Jackson created his own nightmare in many ways. He fed the media and then ran and hid from it when it backfired. Truly a tortured soul.
But again, I agree, and to quote Janet Jackson, “He may be an icon to you, but to us he was family.” I hope they can find some peace.