Unless you’re living under a rock (in which case I’d really love to know how the hell you have internet access), you’ve probably heard about a little something called “KONY 2012”. Or perhaps “#KONY2012”. Or even “that super long YouTube video that made your mom all emotional”. Now before I begin to talk about this hot topic, I need to state that this is NOT me taking a stance on the KONY 2012 controversy. I’m not endorsing it, and I’m not criticising it. I’m just pointing out a rather startling pattern that I noticed today. What is that pattern you ask? Well in case you didn’t read the title of this (for shame!), KONY 2012 is the new Justin Bieber. Sound far-fetched? Questioning my intellectual capacity like that one commenter who I offended with my critique of the Swiss Chalet holiday commercials? Completely understandable. But hear me out: I think I’m onto something.
Similarity 1: It all started with a video.
For those of you rock-dwellers who aren’t familiar with either Justin Bieber or KONY 2012, let me give you a brief description of how they shot to fame. The Biebz was(is) just a Canadian preteen hangin’ out in his hometown of Stratford, Ontario, when videos in which he exhibited great musical prowess went viral on YouTube. Some Hollywood hotshots took an interest in him, he recorded a single, and BOOM he has his own nail polish (I’m not even going to lie; I own one of the shades). He has now achieved international fame, and all thanks to a video. KONY 2012 is an initiative run by the Invisible Children movement, which was relatively unheard of until (wait for it…) a video they created went viral. Through the power of social media, KONY 2012 became a household name literally overnight. Maybe JB’s rise to fame was slightly more gradual, but you have to admit it: a resemblance is there.
Similarity 2:It’s a love/hate thing.
When things become as famous as Justin Bieber and KONY 2012, people are bound to talk about them. And naturally, people are going to have extremely different opinions. This phenomenon has surrounded Biebzy (I’m trying out some new nicknames) from the start. Many people (predominately individuals who have ovaries and are under the age of 12) just can’t get enough of the Canadian Cutie (…..) and will continue to support him until the inevitable day that his voice drops and/or he actually gets someone pregnant (coincidentally, this is also the day my wildest dreams come true). But of course, he has his share of haters, and well, haterz gon’ hate. For every preteen squealing JB’s name, there’s at least one rotund middle-aged man kvetching about how he represents the downfall of society on his YouTube channel. The case is much the same for KONY 2012. When word first began to spread about KONY, most of it was good. People were stoked to make a difference through the magic of social media, and everyone loves saving kids. But low and behold, a short 24 hours later, popular opinion has split in two. People have begun posting links that criticise Invisible Children for questionable use of funds and promoting the slaughter of children (?). It looks like it just might turn out to be the most debated topic since someone first questioned the authenticity of Nikki Minaj’s ass. So whether your pro Biebz or anti Biebz, a KONY lover or a hater, it’s plain to see that this is yet another thing they share in common.
Similarity 3: They’re EVERYWHERE.
I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s impossible to go a day without seeing or hearing about Justin Bieber. It’s honestly like I’m being haunted by the ghost of his flippy hair from days of old. Open any magazine: Bieber. Turn on TV: Bieber. Facebook? Bieber. Twitter? ALL the Bieber. The guy gets around. KONY 2012 is a newer craze (like I said, it happened overnight) but it felt like everywhere I looked today, I was seeing the hashtag. BBM, Facebook, Twitter, the news, in the hallways of my school, there was no escaping it. Love it or hate it, you have to admit that Invisible Children can sure run one hell of an awareness campaign. While KONY might not yet have its own perfume or Silly Bandz, like the Bieb it too has inspired its own line of merchandise, and people are buying it. I give it a week tops before KONY 2012 support bracelets replace those weird balance bands that people insist make them more athletically competent as the hot new thing in wrist accessories. And let’s not forget the posters. While JB’s posters are predominately glamor shots of him pretending to have street cred and those favored by KONY 2012 are mostly artsy takes on the concept of propaganda, those bad boys cover walls all around the world like tacky wallpaper in an old folks home. Like I said, they’re EVERYWHERE.
Similarity 4: The fan base.
I don’t want to stereotype, but in order for this argument to work I’m going to have to a little bit. Who are most of Justin Bieber’s biggest supporters? Teenage girls. Who’s doing everything they can to get involved with KONY 2012? Teenage girls. Both Biebz and KONY 2012 seem to have an extraordinary power to inspire them to action. Sure, in the case of KONY that action is one of social activism whereas with Bieber it’s generally squealing and whipping training bras at a stage, but their impact is undeniable. So undeniable that even celebrities have taken notice. Bieber counts Usher, Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift as fans, and he’s even won the Disney approved heart of Selena Gomez. KONY is being supported by stars like Rihanna and Olivia Wilde, and given its viral nature the list is just going to grow. Like Bieber Fever, KONY 2012 is sweeping the world at a rapid pace. Will people remember them? Well in all likelihood, history students 100 years from now are going to think Bieber Fever is “that one plague that wiped out all those people during the Renaissance”, but the KONY initiative might very well be remembered as one of the first big cases of social networking being used to support a charitable cause. Regardless of the controversy of the actual cause, it’s pretty cool how fast a topic can spread through the use of technology. And it’s also hilarious to watch people flip-flop between being pro and con.
In conclusion, I think it’s plain to see a connection here. I for one wouldn’t be at all surprised to hear that the Invisible Children documentary that started it all was released in theaters in stunning 3D. I might be crazy for seeing these similarities, but even if I haven’t convinced you, there’s still one big message to take from this post: If Justin Bieber ever gets involved with the KONY 2012 initiative, the world might explode.
