StarSong
Awkward is my Superpower
- Location
- Los Angeles Suburbs
Last night I talked with a young friend (35 ish) who's an officer with LAPD. He said that Los Angeles has a lot of law enforcement focus on trying to control the spread of COVID-19, but it's an uphill battle.
What shocked me was the "YouTube parties" he described. "Influencers," usually in the age group 18 - 25, with hundreds of thousands (or more) followers send out messages about parties they're throwing or will be attending. These parties are held in mansions with rental price tags of $30K per month or so. Hundreds of people show up. Unmasked.
The influencers video and photograph the parties, post it to their platform of choice (often a YouTube channel), the videos go viral with hits, they gather more followers, and the money just keeps rolling in. Like over a million a year. They earn more from social media than it costs to rent the houses and throw the parties. Who knew? (I sure didn't.) The platforms aren't stopping the practice because the more hits these influencers get the more YouTube and others can charge for advertising.
They're on myriad social media platforms: TikTok, Facebook, SnapChat, Instagram and more.
The other mass gatherings (so to speak) LAPD are having problems enforcing are churches that are holding indoor services despite being told they are not legally permitted at this time. Outdoor services where congregants are wearing masks and socially distancing are ok.
I asked how the officers manage this delicate situation. He said they show up and gently explain that it's dangerous and unlawful behavior. Sometimes that's sufficient, but often not. Then what? He said he steps back because no one wants to be that cop getting screamed at by a little old lady who insists on going inside her church, mosque or synagogue. Next thing you know an edited version of the encounter will be viral on Facebook video.
Social media has been a game changer in so many ways.
What shocked me was the "YouTube parties" he described. "Influencers," usually in the age group 18 - 25, with hundreds of thousands (or more) followers send out messages about parties they're throwing or will be attending. These parties are held in mansions with rental price tags of $30K per month or so. Hundreds of people show up. Unmasked.
The influencers video and photograph the parties, post it to their platform of choice (often a YouTube channel), the videos go viral with hits, they gather more followers, and the money just keeps rolling in. Like over a million a year. They earn more from social media than it costs to rent the houses and throw the parties. Who knew? (I sure didn't.) The platforms aren't stopping the practice because the more hits these influencers get the more YouTube and others can charge for advertising.
They're on myriad social media platforms: TikTok, Facebook, SnapChat, Instagram and more.
The other mass gatherings (so to speak) LAPD are having problems enforcing are churches that are holding indoor services despite being told they are not legally permitted at this time. Outdoor services where congregants are wearing masks and socially distancing are ok.
I asked how the officers manage this delicate situation. He said they show up and gently explain that it's dangerous and unlawful behavior. Sometimes that's sufficient, but often not. Then what? He said he steps back because no one wants to be that cop getting screamed at by a little old lady who insists on going inside her church, mosque or synagogue. Next thing you know an edited version of the encounter will be viral on Facebook video.
Social media has been a game changer in so many ways.
