I watched the documentary ‘Generation Like’ today, and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was very relatable, and I managed to learn (and realise) quite a number of things from it.

The documentary basically talked about the current generation, and how so many children are obsessed with Internet fame and popularity – be it from getting likes on their Facebook and Instagram photos, or gaining followers and retweets on Twitter, or getting their posts reblogged on Tumblr… the list goes on.

Also, what are companies doing with the technology at hand? How do they engage with their users each time somebody puts a ‘Like’ on their Facebook page? What do websites like Tumblr and apps like Instagram demand for? It’s powerful, really, when a user ‘Likes’ something. It means that you agree with something. It means that you associate with that content. It means that something in particular speaks to you.

According to the documentary, MTV used to be the one exploiting kids’ desires to be cool. They chased kids down and sold it all back to them. Today, however, children are putting themselves out there in hopes to be recognised in the social media sphere. They want to be a part of a brand, or the Internet scene, more than what companies allow them to be. Children empower themselves with tools embedded with self-constructed values.

It’s pretty insane, don’t you think?

This documentary was an eye-opener to the industry, the what’s and how’s, and also the many ways in which brands and companies have been able to connect with their audience. It also showcased prominent people like Tyler Oakley, who is somebody incredibly obsessed with pop culture. It was amazing to see how he started off on YouTube just vlogging about things he liked, and how he slowly rose to fame and is now even giving advice to companies hoping to flourish in the social media sphere.

Brands and companies are always thinking of new ways in which they might reach out to potential customers, and with technology constantly on the rise, I am positive that fans and users will willingly participate, as long as there is some sort of return investment. Think being able to get a reply on Facebook from your favourite celebrity. Or being crowned one of the ‘Top 100 fans of The Hunger Games’. Or instantly gaining more followers the moment Justin Bieber retweets you.

I believe that this is only the beginning of ‘Generation Like’. There is so much more ahead of us, and oh, what a time to be alive.