Damn, Daniel, why are you so famous?! A recently trending video showcases a boy named Daniel being followed by his friend on different days commenting on his various outfits, specifically his reoccurring white Vans. If you have yet to watch “Damn, Daniel,” watch it here:
Social media has created a burst of random, unknown persons (usually teenagers) who get their 15 minutes of fame. From the "apparently kid" to Alex from Target, people all over the place reach the most fame they could possible achieve only to be forgotten months, even weeks, later. But when does it become too much? Why can people, especially the younger generation, focus so much time and energy to give these people their few minutes of fame, when there are much more important things going on in the world?
Both the "apparently kid" and Alex from target, along with many others, have gotten on talk shows and made a huge impact in the pop culture of today. By now, those who stay up-to-date are likely to know the famous line “Back at it again with the white Vans!” and are recreating spin-off videos of this. Recently, Daniel Lara of “Damn, Daniel” was able to be a guest on "The Ellen Show." After a lighthearted interview, Ellen gave Daniel a lifetime supply of Vans. Sure, Daniel seems like a nice boy, and I have to admit his viral video has made me laugh, but I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact he is getting perks for making someone laugh for a minute or two. Why does a kid who happened to get lucky on social media receive something excessive when these items could go to people in need? Aren’t there numerous homeless people around the world who would be forever grateful for a used pair of shoes, let alone one pair of Vans?
Furthermore, can we even say this kind of fame is a good thing? The voice and cameraman in “Damn Daniel,” Joshua Holz, was recently swatted, meaning he was the victim of someone "pranking" him by "convincing authorities to dispatch an emergency response for a fake accident." It's believed that this swatting incident is related to the viral video, especially since his family has received numerous strange phone calls and emails. But where does it end? Take Rebecca Black for example, known for her music video "Friday," who was bullied so hard after her 15 minutes of fame, she had to drop out of school. Both cases can make a person wonder if this surprising rise to fame is really good for these social media sensations.
When will it be time to stop prioritizing the little things and making them into a bigger deal? When will it be time to focus on the bigger issues, instead of publicizing someone's shoes, someone's good looks or someone's voice?
