JULY 2021 IN CLICKS: Maybe Social Media WAS a Bad Idea...
The Gabbie Hanna Docuseries, Black Tik Tok Strike, Grooming Allegations and more incoming from us to you.
What an insane summer thus far. Putting aside the skyrocketing temperature and Jeff Bezos trying to colonize space, the internet has been heating up in different directions.
In the influencer space, Former Youtube sensation Gabbie Hanna, otherwise shown as the Gabbie Show, has spent this month burning any-and-all bridges she had in the digital space through her new docuseries. Meanwhile, Black Tik Tok has gone on strike again, pretending to steal Tik Tok dances made by white creators. And, as if we haven’t had enough of children being hurt on the Internet, a Tik Tokker proudly proclaimed on an Instagram live that he groomed Millie Bobby Brown.
Yeah, I know. Yikes.
Here’s the rundown of those stories and more.
Somehow, we still care about Gabbie Hanna.
The Gist:
Gabbie Hanna has taken the annual spotlight of summer influencer drama this year with her public outrage on drama channels and poetry critics and now has intensified the online backlash with her controversial docuseries.
Hanna allegedly began working on the docuseries earlier this year as a method to “explain her side” of all controversies she’s been in throughout her online career. Eleven episodes have been posted onto her Youtube channel so far.
In the episodes posted, Hanna has commented on her long-standing friendship drama with Trisha Paytas, re-addressed her past with RiceGum, complained about how she didn’t have vegetables in her luxury trailer on the Escape the Night set (even though she did and didn’t eat them according to producers Joey Graceffa and Daniel Preda) and continued to harass influencer Jessi Smiles by lying about “hearing out” her rapist Curtis Lepore.
As episodes have come out, mentioned Youtubers such as Joey Graceffa, Daniel Preda and Jessi Smiles have made reaction videos to dispute the false claims that have come from their individual episodes. Hanna has not responded to these claims as yet.
Hanna announced that she will be going “offline entirely,” in her most recent video in the series. In the video’s description, she attributes her behavior to her ADHD diagnosis, stating: “This series is *NOT* about drama, it’s about my life & processing trauma. Unfortunately, a lot of that does involve people who consistently wrap me up in drama online….It was also meant to be a commentary on the constant, targeted harassment and exploitation of women in the media. It’s meant to serve as a tool in shedding light on the very trivialized and misunderstood mental disability, ADHD.”
Regardless of her staying offline, Hanna alludes to finishing the series.
Why do we care? The Gabbie Hanna docuseries brings up many interesting conversations in the digital culture world, particularly around the perception of mental health. As we’ve alluded to in multiple pieces (like this one) on Incoming, our generation displays a profound interest in mental health awareness and de-stigmatization. However, in this case, many social media users have openly continued to publicly bash Gabbie Hanna, despite knowing that she has a mental illness.
I’m not the right person to say whether or not someone’s diagnosis makes them behave in a certain way, and neither are other random people on the internet. However, there seems to be a consensus amongst viewers that having a mental illness is not a way out of being a “bad person.” In a way, these situations serve as a multifaceted way to view the developing moral compass of the internet. Many users agree that Hanna is a “bad person” for the way that she attacks others and oversteps their boundaries and subsequently view her mentioning of ADHD to be a scapegoat out of the backlash.
These situations also help flesh out the spectrum of tolerance to online behavior. . Although, I think the spectrum is widening in favor of neuro-divergent people. Only time will tell.
Why should you care? This situation continues to add evidence to the overarching movement to stop allowing just anyone to be famous. Let’s do better at collectively ignoring influencers who react to public controversy in such an excessive manner and emphasize them doing their own self-reflection and discovery.
Episode 4 of Hanna’s docuseries about her time on Escape the Night (via The Gabbie Show on Youtube)
Black Tik Tok Goes On Strike Again **As they should**
The Gist:
Black Tik Tok went on strike again by stealing white creators' content.
This strike was created by dancer Erick Louis. In their initial video about the protest, Louis stated this reclamation of content is inspired by “many unsuccessful attempts to reach officials at Tik Tok and trying to reason with white folk on this app.”
Since then, Louis has been remaking dance videos created by white creators, asking for Black content creators and viewers to reclaim their “stolen dances.” This has caused some harmless chaos in some Tik Tok comment sections.
This protest comes after the “Thot Shit” dance strike, in which Black dancers refused to create choreography for Megan Thee Stallion’s newest single. It’s unclear which creator started the first Black Tik Tok Strike; however, it was reportedly popularized by many Black Tik Tokers, including Erick Louis.
Why should you care? Social media has become a marketplace for stealing and making empires off of Black content. As we’ve previously seen with the rise of Charli D’amelio, now with a reported net worth of 8 million dollars, by doing the uncredited choreography of ‘Renegade,’ a dance originally made by Jalaiah Harmon, Black creation is consistently successful and pivotal in social media success. Yet, Black people do not get the credit they deserve.
Black Tik Tokers have to face a plethora of race-related issues and harassment that is not regulated by Tik Tok itself. This strike is another hilarious and extremely well-timed inside joke amongst the Black community online; however, it speaks to the continued issue of pantomiming of Black culture in the digital space.
A history of stolen Black Tik Tok Dances (via Taylor Cassidy on Youtube)
White Tik Toker Proudly Embraces Grooming Millie Bobby Brown
The Gist:
TLDR: This story is incredibly disturbing but an essential part of an important conversation about minor safety in our world today. If you are sensitive to themes of grooming and/or sexual coercion, please skip past this story.
It seems like this situation stemmed from a now-deleted tweet suggesting a hidden relationship between Tik Tokker Hunter “Echo” Ecimovic and Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown. Photos of the two kissing came out not too long after, corroborating the tweet. Reports differ on the ages of both Echo and Brown during their relationship; however, there are estimates that Brown was 15/16 and Echo was 20.
After getting questions about his relationship with Brown, Echo went on Instagram live to dispute claims of grooming. During the livestream, he suggested alleged sexual activity with Brown, but emphasized that she was the initiator in their relationship.
He also alluded that Brown’s parents were aware of the extent of their relationship and continued to allow them to live together for eight months.
At one point during the Live, Echo responded to a comment that said, "Imagine being a grown adult and dating a kid," with, "I know, I groomed her."
Echo has released a brief apology for his crude remarks made during the livestream, still denying claims of grooming.
Brown’s team made a statement to TMZ, alleging that his claims during the live show were “only dishonest, but also are irresponsible, offensive and hateful.” They also emphasized that they will be taking legal action against Echo for his remarks.
Why should you care? Minors are in consistent danger on the internet, and situations of grooming like these are steadily increasing and getting more disturbing. If you are a parent reading this, please be aware of who your children are talking to online. I strongly suggest limiting their overall screen time until stronger legislation is passed to protect them from adults with malicious intentions.
Please, if you are a minor and talking to someone online, please exercise caution. If it’s clear that they are older than you and/or they emphasize that you are “mature for your age,” block them immediately. They are being clear at their intention to exploit you. You are not at fault for their insidious actions, but please be alert and DO NOT engage when possible.
I hope Millie Bobby Brown gets the peace and justice she deserves.
TLDR: This video is of Hunter Echo’s Instagram Live in which he alluded to grooming Millie Bobby Brown. This may be triggering to those sensitive to themes of grooming and/or sexual coercion.
Also, on trend…
And please, get vaccinated if you haven’t already.
On Incoming…
From the concept of privacy in the Biden administration to dissecting “Americacore,” we’ve been tackling topics all across the digital culture community on a biweekly basis all month.
Check out some of the amazing work from our staff writers.
How Tik Tok Can Accelerate Conformity and Erase Individuality by Kayla Curtis-Evans
Faking It: The Consequences of Living in an Artificial World by Kayla Curtis-Evans
Be sure to follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook @incomingbyus.
That’s all folks.
Here’s the moral of the month: Don’t let adults talk to children online. Or, better yet, everyone should leave social media sites to kids. I think we’d all be better for it.