Negative Democratization - The "Alpha Male" 😒
Andrew Tate is a former kickboxer and social media influencer who became popular and controversial on the internet around 2022 and 2023. He had been around social media for a while, but his fame skyrocketed when he started sharing videos on TikTok and Instagram about views on relationships, success, and what he called "being an Alpha male." A lot of his advice was extreme and he often made statements about women that many people saw as sexist or just plain disrespectful.
The interesting thing about Andrew Tate's rise is that he didn't become famous in the usual way, like through TV or traditional media. Instead, his videos went viral because people kept sharing clips of him saying shocking or bold things. He quickly gained millions of followers, especially young men who found his views on confidence and success inspiring. But not everyone felt that way, tons of people were upset by his views and called him out for promoting toxic ideas. Eventually, social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube banned him for violating hate speech policies. However, his fans continued sharing his content.
This shows how the democratization of the internet allows people like Andrew Tate to get huge followings quickly, even if their message is negative or harmful. Traditional media might not have given him a platform but social media did, making his views go viral all around the world, raising questions about handling dangerous content online.
REFERENCES:
https://www.tiktok.com/@cryinginmycarpodcast/video/7197931512170384686?lang=en&q=andrew%20tate&t=1730703958703
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/internet/andrew-tate-custody-arrest-romania-business-allegations-rcna64070