In recent years, social media use has skyrocketed. With the use of popular apps like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, regular people have gotten followers and, in turn, fame. Not only are these people famous on the platform they produce content on, but this fame can follow them outside of social media, too.                                                                         

Let’s take someone like Addison Rae, for example. She began posting videos of her dancing on TikTok in July 2019. The videos she made received many likes, and her account began to gain a significant amount of traction from these videos. She joined a group of other popular TikTokers with similar content in December 2019. The group she joined was called the Hype House. This group was full of other popular influencers who created dancing and comedy videos together. After Addison Rae’s account continued to go viral on social media, she had bigger opportunities waiting for her.

In March of 2021, Addison released her single “Obsessed,” which was number 10 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart. Later that year, in August, she landed a role in the movie He’s All That, playing Padgett Sawyer. Since then, Addison has continued to release music. Her most recent song Fame is a Gun (2025), became incredibly popular on TikTok. Another recent song, Diet Pepsi (2024), was her most-played song according to her Spotify Wrapped, with 362 million plays last year. She has also landed acting roles in movies such as Thanksgiving and an upcoming role in the movie Animal Friends. 

Although the idea of becoming a celebrity or earning money through posting content on social media has become a desire for many, especially younger generations, it has affected the entire Hollywood structure and idea of celebrity. Many new stars are now being cast in roles not because of their talent but because of their popularity. Actors who have a larger following are more likely to be cast in a project because of their fame, despite their talent or efforts. In the past, actors and actresses had to study their craft, participate in auditions, and really earn their careers, but now, some of the biggest stars have no industry experience and have earned their spot in Hollywood through their phones.

Standing in front of your phone, hitting the record button, and dancing can seem intimidating, but for some people, it feels natural. And to the people who it comes naturally to, those people could have a career down the road that they never expected. But, this makes it unfair to those who have worked to become an actor, who have studied the craft and done the work, as they may lose a role when up against an influencer who can bring attention and a known name to a project. 

So that raises the question: are influencers taking over Hollywood? Do they have what it takes to make projects that matter? And the biggest question: what makes a celebrity?