Social media dismantled celebrity mystique, turning stars into ordinary influencers

Key facts

• Social media has eroded the traditional celebrity culture built on image scarcity and mystery.
• Marlon Brando appeared in only about twelve films and three interviews per year, making each appearance an event.
• Paparazzi in the 1990s were part of a system that both violated privacy and reinforced mystique.
• Katy Perry, Selena Gomez, Kanye West, and Ariana Grande use social media to sell products directly.
• Kim Kardashian's SKIMS and Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty exemplify celebrities becoming their own brands.
• The Cambridge Dictionary named 'parasocial' the word of 2025, defined as a one-sided emotional bond.
• Influencers like MrBeast operate on proximity and simulated friendship, unlike traditional stars.
• Michael Austin on Just Web World noted that social media made celebrities accessible but ordinary.