Podcast Summary
Unexpected reactions towards Instagram influencer Caroline Callaway: Online communities, such as 'small bean snark,' can have significant impacts on individuals' reputations and lives through snarking and criticism, even towards influencers.
The power of social media can create unexpected communities and reactions, even towards individuals who may be considered influencers. In this episode, the discussion revolves around Caroline Callaway, an Instagram influencer who gained notoriety in 2012 and later became the subject of an anti-fan club on Reddit. The community, named "small bean snark," was dedicated to snarking about Caroline and grew to have over 14,000 members. Despite her influencer status, Caroline found herself in hot water when pictures of her dirty apartment surfaced, leading to a lawsuit from her landlords. The images, which went viral on Twitter and Reddit, showed a filthy living space filled with garbage and grime. However, the reaction from the public was not what one might expect. Instead of sympathy, Caroline became the subject of ridicule and criticism from the members of the small bean snark community. The episode also highlights the prevalence of anti-fan clubs on social media platforms, which can have significant impacts on individuals' lives and reputations. The discussion underscores the importance of understanding the complex dynamics of online communities and the potential consequences of one's actions and online presence.
The Internet's Power to Build and Tear Down: The internet can create a distorted reality, leading to online harassment and real-life consequences for individuals.
The internet can both build up and tear down individuals at an unprecedented rate. Caroline Callaway, a former Cambridge student and influencer, experienced both the adoration and the scorn of the online world. During her rise to fame, she built a strong connection with her followers through her personal stories and relatable content. However, as the lines between new and traditional media blurred, influencers like Caroline became lucrative targets. Caroline's success led to book deals, events, and a significant following. But, as her comment section turned sour, she faced increasing criticism and mockery. The internet community, in the form of snark subreddits like smallbeansnark, took pleasure in her downfall. The negative attention culminated in a thread about her apartment, which became one of the most popular on the sub. The question remains, what made Caroline such a villain? Beyond the apartment trashing, what was her scam? The answer is not straightforward. The internet can create a distorted reality, where individuals are idolized and then ridiculed without understanding the complexities of their lives. This online harassment can have real-life consequences, causing emotional and financial damage. In essence, the internet provides a platform for connection and community, but it also has the potential to breed negativity and harm. It's essential to remember that behind every online persona is a real person with feelings and experiences.
Caroline Callaway's Controversial Rise to Internet Stardom: Despite promising personalized experiences, Caroline Callaway canceled several tour dates and asked attendees to bring their own salads, contributing to the discourse about the empty and scammy influencer economy. Gawker played a significant role in reporting on influencer scandals before going offline.
Caroline Callaway's rise to Internet stardom was marked by several controversies, including failed workshops and allegations of scamming her followers. In 2019, Caroline promised her followers homemade salads, personalized handwritten letters, mason jar gardens, and orchid flower crowns for her creativity workshop tour. However, she ended up canceling several tour dates at the last minute and asked attendees to bring their own salads. This incident, along with other scandals involving influencers, contributed to the discourse about the empty, messy, and scammy influencer economy. Caroline's flameout was a brief mainstay in this conversation, with allegations of ghostwriting and lying to get a book deal adding fuel to the fire. For those deeply engaged in Internet culture, sites like Gawker, which provided a unique blend of journalism and user-generated content, played a significant role in keeping them informed about the latest developments surrounding influencers like Caroline. Although Gawker went offline before Caroline's scandal, it paved the way for the current digital landscape where influencer gossip thrives.
The public downfall of Caroline Callaway: A case study in societal biases: Online communities can shed light on societal issues, but their discussions don't directly address or solve underlying inequalities.
The Internet community, specifically on the subreddit r/smallbeansnark, has documented and discussed the public downfall of Caroline Callaway, a once-promising author, through a lens of social critique. This community's fascination with Callaway stems from her privilege and the societal biases that have allowed her multiple chances despite her mistakes. The conversations on the subreddit touch upon important topics like class, education, sex work, and feminism, shedding light on the larger societal issues that contribute to inequality. However, it's important to note that this online activity is seen as a hobby, and while it can lead to valuable discussions, it doesn't directly address or solve the underlying societal issues.
Bonding over mutual dislikes: People connect more over shared dislikes than shared admiration, forming communities based on snark and antifandom.
The shared dislike of a person can be a powerful force in bringing people together and forming communities. This phenomenon, often referred to as "snark," was explored in a study by psychology professor Jennifer Boston, who found that people bond more over mutual dislikes than mutual admiration. The social norm of expressing favorable views makes confessing dislikes a more trustworthy and intimate act. While it may seem frivolous, the influencer and snark communities involve significant labor, from photo editing and logistics to managing brand deals and engaging with fans. The strong investment and attention paid to the object of dislike characterize antifan communities, which go beyond mere hating and involve a deeper level of engagement.
Criticizing Women Influencers: A Form Of Gender-Based Violence: The small bean snark subreddit, which targets women influencers, can contribute to harmful gender-based violence through horizontal misogyny, policing women's behavior, and perpetuating regressive norms.
The small bean snark subreddit, which focuses on criticizing influencers, particularly women, is rooted in gendered politics and can be a form of gender-based violence. The critique often centers around accusations of fakery and lack of authenticity, which are long-standing criticisms against women. The people engaging in this online behavior are actually railing against regressive norms holding women back, but the real women being targeted can feel more than just cattiness. This behavior, known as horizontal misogyny, can be harmful and contribute to policing women's behavior in public space. The term "basic bitch" is an example of this, being used to police women's behavior more commonly than "basic bro." The subreddit, which is mostly women, speaks to larger societal issues around beauty, childcare, and acceptable feminine behavior. Despite rules against contacting the subjects, wishing harm, and body snarking, the commentary can feel like more than just cattiness to those being targeted.
The Harsh Reality of Being a Woman Content Creator Online: The Internet's treatment of women content creators like Caroline Callaway and Julia Allison highlights the double standard and negative impact on their mental health and real lives, raising questions about online vs offline behavior and audience influence.
The Internet can be a harsh place, particularly for women who put themselves out there as content creators. The story of Caroline Callaway and the subreddit dedicated to hating on her is just one example of this phenomenon. But as journalist Ali Jarmani explores in the new season of WBUR's Last Seen podcast, this treatment extends beyond the digital realm and raises important questions about how we treat the dead and who gets to make those decisions. Another woman who experienced this firsthand is Julia Allison, who gained notoriety as a proto-influencer in the early 2000s. She rose to fame with a blog where she shared her fashion choices and makeup purchases. The Internet loved to hate her, with sites like Gawker mocking her content and speculating about her personal life. Julia was shocked and saddened by the negative attention, which came with the territory of putting herself out there online. Both women share similarities - they are conventionally attractive white women who grew up in affluent areas and first found Internet fame while in college. The treatment they received online is a reminder of the double standard that exists for women in the public eye, and the impact it can have on their mental health and real lives. The story also raises questions about the line between online and offline behavior and the role of the audience in shaping the narrative around public figures.
Online hate and harassment can have real-life consequences: Online hate and harassment can escalate, causing harm to individuals' personal and professional lives, and it's crucial to recognize the impact behind the screen.
The internet can be a double-edged sword, providing a sense of community but also a breeding ground for hate and harassment. Julia Allison's experience of being a public figure and facing organized online hate shows how deeply people can bond over criticism and negativity. While some may view this as "snark" or harmless banter, it can escalate into harassment and even impact one's personal and professional life. Julia's situation was particularly challenging due to her lack of support and resources, making it difficult for her to stand up against her detractors. The experience left her feeling powerless and grieving for a week. It's essential to recognize that behind the screen, these actions can have real-life consequences.
The Cost of Fame: Two Influencers Share Their Experiences of Public Criticism and Harassment: Fame can come with negative attention and long-term harm, particularly for women. It's important to consider the impact of our words and actions towards public figures and focus on positive and uplifting pursuits.
The cost of fame and negative attention, particularly for women in the public eye, can be devastating and long-lasting. Julia Allison and Caroline Callaway, two influencers from different eras, share experiences of being publicly criticized and harassed, leading them to retreat from the limelight. While some may see their absence as a loss of entertaining content, others may view it as an opportunity to focus on positive and uplifting pursuits. The fleeting nature of fame and the potential harm it can cause should serve as a reminder for us all to consider the impact of our words and actions towards public figures. Instead of bonding over negativity, let's gather around lovely things and celebrate the good in the world.
Embrace individuality and authenticity: Join Endless Thread podcast community to share untold stories, discover digital creativity, and respect individuality
We should respect each other's individuality and live our lives authentically. The speakers on Endless Thread, a podcast produced by WBUR in Boston, encourage listeners to do their own thing and let others do the same. The podcast explores the blurred lines between digital communities and creativity, and invites listeners to share their untold histories, unsolved mysteries, or wild Internet stories. The team behind the podcast includes Grace Tatter, Ben Brock Johnson, Amory Sivertson, Emily Jankowski, Megan Cattell, Nora Sacks, Quincy Walters, Dean Russell, Matt Reed, and Paul Vykas. If you're interested in joining their community, you can sign up for their email list on their website for early tickets to events, swag, bonus content, and access to their web forum. The podcast's message is simple but powerful: be true to yourself, and let others be true to themselves too.
