User talk:Christiejayne123

This is the user talk page for Christiejayne123 (talk) 15:04, 9 February 2016 (UTC)

Wiki Exercise #1
The popularity of the documentation of an individuals life online is becoming increasingly popular. The newest generation of young people are able to access information and advice on a wide variety of topics, which for previous generations would have been taboo or simply unacceptable to talk about. Online personalities are becoming increasingly confidents in sharing their personal struggles with their audience of individuals behind a computer screen. As a result of such reveals of struggle the everyday individual has access to knowledge that they are not alone in something they may be facing and that it is possible to work through whatever struggles they may be facing.

Personally the story of vlogger Zoella (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWRV5AVOlKJR1Flvgt310Cw) reaches out to me. Zoe Sugg is best known for being a beauty vlogger, often producing videos relating to make-up or home decor. However Zoe has given her audience of millions a significant insight into her off-screen life, by openly talking about her struggles with anxiety. A video was uploaded onto her Youtube channel, entitled "Dealing with Panic Attacks and Anxiety" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-iNOFD27G4). This video opened up about her battle with anxiety and how she personally dealt with it on a daily basis. This video gained over 3 million views, and comments suggest that Zoe's openness about the topic allowed for them to understand their own conditions better and have the courage to tell friends and/or family that they were having difficulties.

The ability to reach out to such a large audience allows for individuals such as Zoe to raise awareness of important topics, such as anxiety and depression and potentially push an individual into asking for help, which they may not have gained without such a role model talking about the subject. Personally, online personalties talking about their struggles allows for me to know that I am not the only one who has these issues and that it may be far more common that many know.

Of course their are other ways for individuals to gain information about the mental health issues Zoella talks about, such as from the Samaritans (http://www.samaritans.org/) or from Childline (https://www.childline.org.uk). It is a personal decision on how a person deals with such issues, but modern internet usage allows for them to have an alternative way to find out more.

Christiejayne123 (talk) 09:52, 10 February 2016 (UTC)