The rise of online celebrities/influencers in Malaysia serves as a warning about the dangers of copying or even idolizing individuals who become famous for the wrong reasons. Take Adeline Chang, for example. While she may not be an online celebrity, her fame skyrocketed when a video of her refusing to pay an e-hailing driver went viral in February 2024. Instead of facing the consequences, she gained even more attention, and her story spread due to similar incidents in the past.
Adeline's response to her sudden fame is troubling. Rather than expressing remorse, she seized upon her notoriety by accepting endorsements on various platforms, which were positioned as 'second chances' by some. This opportunism suggests she is exploiting her viral status. Worse still, she flaunted her earnings, boasting that she could quickly out-earn highly educated professionals. This conveys a harmful message to impressionable youth - that financial gains can come from wrongful acts. Additionally, the promotion of Adeline by merchants and online influencers raises the question, is it really okay?
Furthermore, her desire for extravagance, as seen in this instance, reflects a concerning attitude towards wealth and entitlement. Her recent involvement in online disputes and negative interactions during her livestreams on Facebook further degrades social discourse. These actions, including lies, public arguments, and inappropriate shoutouts, propagate negative influences over social media, affecting the younger generation. Although we may not have the right to judge, and it’s not to say that all these actions are definitively wrong, the outcome for societal values is concerning.
Adeline's rapid rise to fame, along with other online celebrities/influencers, suggests to young people that they can achieve fame and success by engaging in unethical behavior. By copying or idolizing individuals like Adeline, who gain fame through controversy rather than talent or honesty, young people may believe that it's acceptable to compromise their ethics if it helps them get ahead.
The issue is that many people admire these online celebrities without considering the impact they have. With the internet being easily accessible, even very young children can be influenced by it, and there may not be anyone to tell them that it's wrong.
In contrast, there are still many people who prioritize education and ethical conduct. We need to demonstrate to young people that there are better role models available—individuals who attain success through diligence and integrity.
In my two cents, the prevalence of online celebrity/influencer culture in Malaysia calls for a reevaluation of our values. Instead of glorifying those who rise through controversy, we should celebrate those who contribute positively to society, promoting integrity, education, and constructive impacts. It is vital not to idolize online figures blindly but to scrutinize their values and actions carefully. Let's inspire our youth to follow a path that leads to genuine success and a clear conscience by supporting online celebrities who embody positive values and make meaningful contributions to society.
Isabel Lim is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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