Where have our household names gone? Where are the classic celebrities that your youngest cousin and grandparents have heard of alike? Why is there a disappearance of “A-Listers”? Has Hollywood lost its heroes? 

It feels like within the last few years, there has been a lull in the rise of classic Hollywood celebrities. Take a look back to the 90s, filled with household names such as Leonardo Dicaprio, Nicole Kidman, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Tom Hanks, and Tom Cruise. Even more, Elvis, The Beatles, Elton John, and Marilyn Monroe are a few of the most well-known people, whose legacies still live on. Nowadays, there are very few people that captivate the attention of several generations. If we had to narrow it down, Zendaya, Taylor Swift, Justin Beiber, and Beyonce may be the names of stars that have affected several age groups. Even with these stars, it is unlikely that anyone besides Taylor Swift and Beyonce will leave an impact as great as the celebrities of the past have had. These days, there are too many “well-known” figures, which discredits the surreal fame that old stars used to have. 

So why is this happening? Simply put: social media. Because of the increase of “influencers,” no one is truly famous anymore, since everyone can be. Thanks to the rapid spread of information and influence, just about anyone could become “famous” in a matter of days. Furthermore, there is less of a demand for true talent, as making a joke could get you to the same career level that years of hard work took. Nayeli Ramirez (11) speaks on this issue stating, “just about anyone could go viral; it doesn’t mean they are famous right away, but it does open a doorway for fame.” Since we had fewer major stars in the past, they had the ability and privilege to live on forever in our hearts. However, these new celebrities, unfortunately, will not.