If you have a Snapchat, you've seen DailyMail's articles every day. They're what you click through on the walk to class, when you're sitting around bored, and even when you first wake up. We live in a digital age where social media is documenting just about every single thing that everyone is doing. Lately, I've noticed that there are more articles about the Kardashians than anything -- but not even for important or particularly entertaining reasons. Social media seems to thrive off of reporting what's happening with these people, but it never seems to be anything of substance. It's always about what they're wearing (or not wearing), their bodies, or sightings. DailyMail in particular is so obsessed with updating the world about the Kardashians that I don't even read it anymore -- because I have better things to do than marvel over the tiny bathing suit that Kim was spotted wearing on the beach.
This frustration made me curious -- exactly how much are the Kardashians talked about, and what about them is being talked about? As I researched it further, my resounding question was basically why do we actually care about these them (& these things) so much?
So I put my theory to the test. Below are headlines that show up on the first two pages of DailyMail's search when you type in "Kardashians." They're not edited at all. These are legitimate headlines a legitimate news source's website. The more you read, the more you'll understand.
"Natural Beauty: Kylie Jenner Poses In The Great Outdoors, And Offers Behind-The-Scenes Glimpse Of Bikini Photo Shoot."
"Kim Kardashian Swaps Reality TV For The Big Screen And Bares Her Famous Figure For Ocean's Eight Role"
"Back to selfies! Kylie Jenner shows off tiny waistline in grey outfit after posing in a leather bathing suit for outré Malibu shoot."
"Kendall Jenner flaunts her tiny waist in a cropped fur jacket as she joins supermodel sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid after the Chanel show at Paris Fashion Week."
"'Haters will say it's photoshopped': Kim Kardashian posts tongue-in-cheek Snapchat photo of hourglass figure."
"It's Kim the movie star! Kardashian makes her Oceans Eight cameo... and bares her figure in sheer lace gown."
"Kendall Jenner rocks leather top as she shows off impressive singing skills for music video... but it turns out to be Elle King."
"Girls' day! Kardashian sisters brunch and cruise the open road in a cherry red classic Chevrolet Bel Air."
"PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Cindy Crawford, 51 and Kris Jenner, 61, join Julianne Hough's bachelorette getaway for beach fun and drinking games."
"In bed with Kourtney! Kardashian wraps herself up in sheets in throwback snap from nude Cosmopolitan photo shoot."
"What a show off! Khloe Kardashian PUSHES OUT her generous bottom to make it look extra big as she models jeans from Good American line."
"Khloé talks to opera singer Anjelica McRae about weight gain woes."
"She's got a LOT of front! Busty Kim Kardashian flashes flesh in bandeau top and split dress as she hits the LA nightlife."
"'I call it love weight': Khloé Kardashian sympathizes with opera singer Anjelica McRae on Revenge Body."
"I'm the new belfie queen! Kylie Jenner posts cheeky new snap after taking notes from Kim Kardashian."
"Hard to stomach! Kylie Jenner shows off her taut tummy in crop top as she goes for a stroll in sports gear."
"Lucky girl! Khloe Kardashian shows off diamond chain in plunging sheer top... one day after flaunting $100,000 in free stuff."
"Kourtney & Khloe Kardashian together with matching sunglasses."
(That last one is my personal favorite -- because why should anybody care that two sisters are both out wearing sunglasses? Seriously?)
So as you can see, the main topics of conversation surrounding this family seems to be about tiny waists, revealing clothes, and tons of selfies. All silly, trivial things that people are so obsessed with reading about. Why does a reporter feel the need to tell the world that Kylie Jenner's stomach looked flat while she was out taking a walk, or that she took a new selfie? Has our generation become so superficial and shallow that those are the things that are viewed as important news, worth writing about and sharing? But why do people care so much about these things?
The answer to that question is actually an easy one. It's because the world eats that up. But my question is why the world eats that up.
Overall, writing this article and reading these headlines just makes me want to sit back and ask -- why do we care so much about these people? They're idolized so much that there are entire articles dedicated to them walking outside with sunglasses, complaining about weight gain, and wearing revealing clothes. In a world where we have so many other issues (and also so many other sources and topics of information that are a lot more intellectually stimulating), why do we care about Kris Jenner playing drinking games at all?
I don't have an answer to this question. The only thing I do have is a shred of hope that people will stop feeding into this multi-million dollar social media machine and start reporting on stories that really matter -- not stories about two wealthy sisters with matching sunglasses.
