Especially in this generation, it seems as a large variety of people are being considered “celebrities” as they become famous through the internet. These people have different stories of how they came up. Some number of people still have not grasped the idea of what being famous means for them. That’s why anything and everything they do does matter, as they are being looked up to by many. However, there are famous people which take advantage of their following in the most positive way possible.

An example of an artist using their platform for the better is Chicago native, Chance the Rapper. As he grew more and more popular over the past few years, he has used this to his advantage and helped out his local community in Chicago. In April while celebrating his birthday with both fans and friends, he used all the money raised from his celebration to donate to his own non profit organization called SocialWorks.

Outside of America, there are definitely other influential figures. International Korean boy group, BTS, uses their platform and large fan base to promote positivity through sponsoring organizations on social media and even through their songs. They recently announced that they are sponsoring and supporting the #ENDviolence campaign with UNICEF, United Nations Children’s Fund. The #LoveMyself #ENDviolence campaign is centered around the idea to make the world a better place for “children and teenagers [to] be able to live happy and healthy lives, without living in the fear of violence” (Billboard).

Former Disney star, Hayley Kiyoko influences her audience through her song lyrics and social media. As she has a number of fans who look up to her, she knows how to promote awareness on subjects which are looked down upon. In her most popular song “Girls Like Girls,” she lets the people know the importance of accepting people especially in the LGBT community, as they are constantly discriminated against.

Multitalented actress, Zendaya Coleman, knows how to take advantage of large amount of followers on Twitter, Snapchat, and Instagram. She uses her voice with every opportunity she gets by speaking out on subjects such as the Black Lives Matter Movement, Intersectional Feminism, etc.

These are only just a few of the many celebrities who know how to use their platform for the better. Whether it’s influencing others through their songs, through social media, or even just through simple charity work, celebrities are able to influence their following by showing the positives of helping out a community and bringing awareness to certain social issues. They are able to show their fans the right things to do and affect how they may perceive the world. Phoebe Duong (12) follows many of these kinds of celebrities and believes “they really have a great, positive impact on kids these days.”

This is important as celebrities hold a position where people watch their every move and follow what they do. Thus, it is important to do the right things in order to prevent people from wrongdoing.