Fred. The Newest Form of Celebrity.
CMN 2180: Mid-term Project
For this project we were asked to make a video pertaining to youtube. My partner and I ran across the videos of a kid who goes by the name of ‘Fred’ in his videos. His videos have reached millions of viewers and are actually the number one most subscribed Youtube videos of all time. His ability to reach such a vast audience has made him quite popular in the corporate realm. The description linked to the video is the following:
This video project explores how corporations are using youtube personalities, such as Fred, to advertise and sell their products. The marketplace is utilizing youtube to uncover what society (consumers) is interested in. In the case of Fred, the marketplace has a way of using kids to attract other kids. Once they find an amateur sensation like Fred, they use this videoblogger as a marketing tool by slyly placing their products in their videos.
Bibliography
Bigthawt. (06/26/08). Fred The Youtube Celeb Gets a Pretty Sweet Deal. Bigthawt. Retrieved on 2/09/09 from http://bigthawt.wordpress.com/2008/06/26/fred-the-youtube-celeb-gets-a-pretty-sweet-deal
Millian, M. (06/24/08). Fred’s Youtube Channel is Programming for Kids by Kids. Los Angeles Times: Web Scout: Spinning through online entertainment and connected culture. Retrieved on 02/10/09 from http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/webscout/2008/06/freds-youtube-c.html
Riley, D. (08/10/08). Something Rotten in the Fred/Zipit Campaign [PR Gone Bad]. The Inquisitr. Retrieved on 2/09/09 from http://inquisitr.com/2288/something-rotten-in-the-fred-zipit-campaign-pr-gone-bad/
Whitney, D. (12/08/07). Online Fame Easy; Ads Harder to Get. TVWeek: News. Retrieved on 02/09/09 from http://tvweek.com/news/2007/12/online_fame_easy_ads_harder_to.php
Fred is a pretty funny kid, you have to appreciate how the youth of the world is learning to utilize the newest technology to create these incredible ways into social conscience. If these marketing venues are what returns for advertisers than so be it. For far to long we have blocked creativity and original ideas because of the fear of violating our core values. I would say our last Administration has proven that the same ideas do not always work. I for one hope Lucas (aka Fred) keeps rising and leading the way for others to show what they have to offer. We need these types of positive, change inspiring Americans.