User Generated Content
User Generated Content (UGC)
User Generated content is the current media state in the 21st century. UGC involves audiences creating content in response to popular ideologies and opinions. In the digital age, electronic services (also known as electronic services) and social media platforms are becoming increasingly popular. Thanks to the rise of social media platforms, UGC has become easier to share online. People use social media platforms to connect in real time, share opinions, and discuss various topics. Classic examples of such content include Youtube and images and videos posted by celebrities and influencers in Instagram and Facebook.
An example of a powerful user generated content that caused a impact in the world would be the #metoo movement. The Me Too movement is an effort to effect social change, organized primarily through instagram , where it came along with the tagline #MeToo. Several high-profile actresses opened up about their experiences with sexual harassment in the film industry. One of the biggest effects of the #MeToo movement has been to show Americans and people around the world how widespread sexual harassment, assault, and other misconduct really are. As more and more survivors spoke out, they learned they were not alone. And people who had never had cause to think about sexual harassment before suddenly saw how much it had affected their coworkers, children, parents, and friends. This could link back to the usage of media for personal identity needs , one of the five basic needs listed in the users and gratifications theory, to allow self- validation that they are not alone.
There has been room for discussions on UGC being a challenge to main-stream media. Main- stream media refers to traditional media platforms such as newspaper, television and radio. However, I believe that there is a healthy relationship between both media platforms. Mainstream media could gather information from UGC. Similarly, UGC could help to further expand the reach of traditional news and content. Mainstream media considers UGC as a boon rather than as a curse.
Game of thrones is a well known show screened by HBO. HBO is the longest continuously operating subscription television service in the United States. It is undeniable that more than half of the success of the drama series is reflected back to the amount of fan support through social media platforms, be it in the form of memes or couple edit videos. The cast of GOT also have massive fan following in social media platforms which was leveraged on to encourage their fans to follow the drama series. Therefore, UGC has become a powerful tool that mainstream media platforms utilize to sustain or expand their audience pool.
Similarly, as students of BCM 110, we have created a parody on the ever famous song Drivers License by Olivia Rodrigo that has been circulating in tiktok for the longest time. The song has also reached the heart of many youths as they felt a connection with the lyrics of the song on breakup and heartbreak. The song was based on how the lead singer recalled the moments with her ex-boyfriend. Audience expressed how it fulfilled their personal validation needs as they resonated with the emotions of the singer. For audiences that have not gone through breakup , they would have listened to this song to satisfy their social integrative needs to have a common topic of discussion like how our gap connected via this song.
We wanted to replicate the literal meaning of the lyrics while inputing a comical element to it. The use of yellow t-shirt for blonde hair, portraying a older character for the lines ” she is so much older than me” and crossing a person showing the ignorance of the ex-lover. In the parody we have exaggerated the emotions and wanted to highlight the intensity of the meaning behind the lyrics and how the creator intended to lure the emotions of the audience. We, who are also users of the new media platform, used Youtube to upload our reaction towards the music video and as creators we wanted to put a smile and make people laugh, satisfying their tension release needs. Hope y’all enjoy it !
References
https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/10/4/20852639/me-too-movement-sexual-harassment-law-2019
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Hellllooo! Yay to being in the same team again HAHA! Thank you for editing our team’s video and you really did a good job! UGC is a blooming platform that gives access to creators to create a fan base, as mentioned in your blog, the cats of GOT have used this as an advantage to lure fans into continuously supporting the program. UGC and mainstream media do have a ‘shared relationship’ as they do an exchange of programs, like mainstream tv purchasing content from UGC and vice versa. Personally, I think UGC is a good platform to broadcast old tv series to reach out to the younger generation 🙂
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