It's what teens are doing with their newfound celebrity status that is giving them a branding problem.
Social media is about being a "character." Like many Hollywood characters, the teen characters who are doing the bad, bizarre and outrageous capture the attention of fans and followers. Albeit not enduring fame, but elevated fame. On social media sites we see teens and alcohol. Teens and sex. Teens and drugs. On TV, they've shot someone. If they were a corporation, they would keep their crisis PR team working 24/7.
Wait! Isn't this generation of teenagers credited with being the most cause-oriented generation America has ever produced? Where are they on social media? Why haven't they reached "celebrity" status?
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Let's start with "Who?"
Companies can help these teens elevate their celebrity status. Social media can help these teens prosper and grow. Together, we can empower our teen leaders. That leads to more than 15 minutes of fame -- that's something that will last a lifetime.
Three Easy Pieces:
1. Recognize the problem: this generation has a branding problem that needs to be fixed. There is positive in the teenage world. Teens want to change the world. Teens want to be heroes.
2. Seek the great. Entertainment companies hire people to scour the web to find the next Greyson Chance -- the pop rock singer and pianist whose performance of Lady Gaga's Paparazzi at a sixth-grade music festival became a hit on YouTube and Greyson became overnight sensation. Be the company that searches for the teens who are changing the world. When you seek, you will find them. If you need help, email me!
3. PDA! Reward them. Support them. Follow them. Thank them. We need to do more than drive-by recognition. It's not good enough to simply write an article about teens who are changing the world and then move on to the next shiny object. Tell these outstanding teens and the world you love them. Thank them. They'll do the same in return. The circle and cycle of doing good will go on and on. It will last a lifetime.
In summary, if we empower our teens, recognize them, reward them and show them that you don't need to be a "celebrity" by being on a reality television show, but rather make a contribution to your real life, the world would grow better teens and thus a better world.
Nice article, Denise.
Hey Denise ... inspiring words.
This generation is well worth the investment of time and attention and your recommendations are a great tool to help others get started.
Keep up the good work!
Dan
Great article and I totally agree with you! I have spent thousands of hours presenting to high school students and I meet amazing students’ everyday! For every one crazy student who makes the news, there are literally THOUSANDS of students who do good things every day and there are HUNDREDS of students we should see on TV because they do GREAT things to make their communities and world a better place. Unfortunately, most people only hear about students they see on the news because they flipped out and did something terrible.
It is true that teens individually and collectively need to brand themselves better, but maybe what is ultimately needed is an organization to do for students what the AARP does for seniors. Short of such a massive advocacy agency, there are many opportunities for companies to connect in a meaningful way with teens and schools in their communities. While benefitting and promoting the amazing young people in their local communities, they will benefit themselves in the process.
Thanks for calling attention to this amazing generation and offering great suggestions!
Thanks to all for your comments - always appreciated! Byron, AARP - we are working on that - great minds think alike. Someone recently described AllyKatzz as AARP meets the Huffington Post. I was flattered - we aren't there yet, but we're working hard to get there.