Being a Star

Some friends of mine had a very difficult time in their marriage on the weekend. I know because they posted it on Facebook and 56 people commented on things as they unfolded. By Monday it was resolved. The status updates improved.

My friends are Gen Y and were very comfortable posting stuff on their Facebook which friends and family coud openly read.

This made me reflect on Social media. Social media turns us all into "stars".

With other stars (eg Britney, Pink, Lady Gaga, George Clooney, Prince William), every detail of their lives is out there. People want to know about the messy divorces, nasty fights, illicit affairs etc etc We pay money to buy the magazines, view the vidoes, look up the photos which detail these things.

We seem to be doing the same things with our own status updates.We are all stars so we are allowing all aspects of us to become public. The sort of behaviours (both good and bad) that stars "get away with" seem to becoming norms--and they are finding their way into the public arenas of Social Media eg facebook.

Linked to this is some research conducted with children two years ago, which asked their ambitions when  they "grew up". The results were illuminating:
Number One spot: Becoming a sports star
Number Two Spot: Becoming a rock or pop star
Number Three: Being a famous actor

Even more illuminating 25 years ago, the top three choices were teaching, finance and medicine. The fourth choice of kids 25 years ago was scientist. That occupation does not even appear in the top ten desired ambitions.

It seems like shows like Idol, X Factor are fuelling a shift in our new generations ambitions and Facebook is allowing more people to add even more fuel to that star flame.

It fascinates me - and scares me a little.

How will a manager of volunteers manage a group of volunteers who all want to be stars?
How will a fundrasing manager handle donors that far from anonymous want everyone to know of their deeds?
How will an employer manage a group of potential prima donnas?