To what extent is human identity increasingly mediated?
According to David Gauntlett, "Having an identity is a known requirement in modern society". Identities can be formed and manipulated through all the different forms of media including TV, music and magazines. The process of forming an identity through the media is defined by Thomas De Zengotita's as mediation. De Zengotita says that mediation is the process of us experiencing the world through the media, so the media must shape our identity. Zygmunt Bauman, a social theorist says that mediation also means the negotiation to resolve a dispute between two things. The negotiation of identity is continuously changing and is largely influenced by one of the newest media forms, the internet.
One of the largest and most influential media outlets on the internet is YouTube. The reason that the site is so influential to people of all ages is because anyone can upload content. Users are almost guaranteed to find content creators that they can relate to and can form so kind of a bond with. Popular creators (known as YouTubers) can gather hundreds of thousands of subscribers, this span of control can be highly influential. YouTubers such as Olajide Olatunji, more commonly known as KSI have become hugely successful. Olatunji has a huge loyal fan base that relate to his videos.
