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Mapping Internet Celebrity on TikTok: Exploring Attention Economies and Visibility Labours

Crystal Abidin
Crystal Abidin
   | Jan 19, 2021
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Article Category: Research
Published Online: Jan 19, 2021
Page range: 77 - 103
Received: Sep 14, 2020
Accepted: Nov 12, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5334/csci.140
Keywords
© 2020 Crystal Abidin, published by De Gruyter
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Figure 1

(L–R) 1.1: ‘Tell your Story with Stories’ (@sponsoredcontent13151 2020a); 1.2: ‘Discover the world from all angles (yoga)’ (@sponsoredcontent13151 2020c); 1.3: ‘It starts with an install’ (@ sponsoredcontent13151 2020e); 1.4: ‘Make it a moment with Superzoom’ (@sponsoredcontent13151 2020f); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R) 1.1: ‘Tell your Story with Stories’ (@sponsoredcontent13151 2020a); 1.2: ‘Discover the world from all angles (yoga)’ (@sponsoredcontent13151 2020c); 1.3: ‘It starts with an install’ (@ sponsoredcontent13151 2020e); 1.4: ‘Make it a moment with Superzoom’ (@sponsoredcontent13151 2020f); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 2

(L–R) 2.1 & 2.2: Instagram ads as viewed in the FYP (@sponsoredcontent13151 2020b); 2.3 & 2.4: Instagram ads when viewed as posts (@sponsoredcontent13151 2020c); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R) 2.1 & 2.2: Instagram ads as viewed in the FYP (@sponsoredcontent13151 2020b); 2.3 & 2.4: Instagram ads when viewed as posts (@sponsoredcontent13151 2020c); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 3

Systemic shifts in the Influencer industry with the emergence of TikTok, and subsequently in the industry at large during COVID-19. Image by the author.
Systemic shifts in the Influencer industry with the emergence of TikTok, and subsequently in the industry at large during COVID-19. Image by the author.

Figure 4

(L–R) 4.1: ‘I am the owner…’ (@_owenz 2020); 4.2: ‘pain lol…’ (@palmparadisee 2020); 4.3: ‘This is still my…’ (@immarksmith 2020); 4.4: ‘It isssss what it…’ (@thatgirlbishop 2020); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R) 4.1: ‘I am the owner…’ (@_owenz 2020); 4.2: ‘pain lol…’ (@palmparadisee 2020); 4.3: ‘This is still my…’ (@immarksmith 2020); 4.4: ‘It isssss what it…’ (@thatgirlbishop 2020); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 5

(L–R) 5.1: ‘my song has been…’ (@absofacto 2020a); 5.2: ‘the trend hasn’t stopped…’ (@absofacto 2020b); 5.3: ‘Daddy/daughter pov videos…’ (@absofacto 2020c); 5.4: ‘#react to @americanblondie…’ (@mxmtoon 2020); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R) 5.1: ‘my song has been…’ (@absofacto 2020a); 5.2: ‘the trend hasn’t stopped…’ (@absofacto 2020b); 5.3: ‘Daddy/daughter pov videos…’ (@absofacto 2020c); 5.4: ‘#react to @americanblondie…’ (@mxmtoon 2020); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 6

(L–R) 6.1: ‘so i heard y’all…’ (@eromei 2020); 6.2: ‘heard fashion on douyin…’ (@christinazhuu 2020); 6.3: ‘Someone pls duet with…’ (@the.navarose 2020); 6.4: ‘Reply to @blackpinkfanpage3…/(@k. hyli 2020); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R) 6.1: ‘so i heard y’all…’ (@eromei 2020); 6.2: ‘heard fashion on douyin…’ (@christinazhuu 2020); 6.3: ‘Someone pls duet with…’ (@the.navarose 2020); 6.4: ‘Reply to @blackpinkfanpage3…/(@k. hyli 2020); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 7

(L–R) 7.1: ‘#fyp #perth #australia #maccas…’ (@_whorelando 2020); 7.2: ‘@bee.coco is not impressed…’ (@t.h.e.ooooo 2020); 7.3: ‘#HoodALT #HoodALTtiktok #Farmer…’ (@mycosymbiote 2020); 7.4: ‘Welcome to Australia #australia…’ (@vintagechocolate 2020); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R) 7.1: ‘#fyp #perth #australia #maccas…’ (@_whorelando 2020); 7.2: ‘@bee.coco is not impressed…’ (@t.h.e.ooooo 2020); 7.3: ‘#HoodALT #HoodALTtiktok #Farmer…’ (@mycosymbiote 2020); 7.4: ‘Welcome to Australia #australia…’ (@vintagechocolate 2020); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 8

(L–R) 8.1: ‘the non-killable kind, don’t…’ (@supah_jp 2020); 8.2: ‘COntestants: Do not take…’ (@theaugust27thshow 2020); 8.3: ‘[untitled]…’ (@the.hannahjensen 2020); 8.4: ‘[untitled]…’ (@coopij 2020); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R) 8.1: ‘the non-killable kind, don’t…’ (@supah_jp 2020); 8.2: ‘COntestants: Do not take…’ (@theaugust27thshow 2020); 8.3: ‘[untitled]…’ (@the.hannahjensen 2020); 8.4: ‘[untitled]…’ (@coopij 2020); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 9

(L–R) 9.1: ‘I got made fun…’ (@arsenkujo 2020); 9.2: ‘Eco tiktok do your…’ (@earthtopia 2020);
(L–R) 9.1: ‘I got made fun…’ (@arsenkujo 2020); 9.2: ‘Eco tiktok do your…’ (@earthtopia 2020);

Figure 10

(L–R)10.1: ‘copy link, just anything…’ (@carli.mochi 2020); 10.2: ‘hey hey hey #fyp…’ (@sushibtch 2020); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R)10.1: ‘copy link, just anything…’ (@carli.mochi 2020); 10.2: ‘hey hey hey #fyp…’ (@sushibtch 2020); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 11

(L–R) 11.1: ‘#duet with @beazknees…’ (@beazknees 2020); 11.2: ‘Straight Tiktok is a…’ (@cindylovesbbt 2020);
(L–R) 11.1: ‘#duet with @beazknees…’ (@beazknees 2020); 11.2: ‘Straight Tiktok is a…’ (@cindylovesbbt 2020);

Figure 12

(L–R)12.1: ‘#duet with @notoriouscree keep…’ (@katyjean_91 2020); 12.2: ‘This has to be…’ (@ joelnilssonnn 2020); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R)12.1: ‘#duet with @notoriouscree keep…’ (@katyjean_91 2020); 12.2: ‘This has to be…’ (@ joelnilssonnn 2020); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 13

(L–R) 13.1: ‘#blacklivesmatter #blm…’ (@hannahmchutchison 2020); 13.2: ‘It only sounds fair…’ (@kissubi 2020); 13.3: ‘Please do what you…’ (@sammyysambo 2020); 13.4: ‘Just a video of…’ (@helloislolo 2020); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R) 13.1: ‘#blacklivesmatter #blm…’ (@hannahmchutchison 2020); 13.2: ‘It only sounds fair…’ (@kissubi 2020); 13.3: ‘Please do what you…’ (@sammyysambo 2020); 13.4: ‘Just a video of…’ (@helloislolo 2020); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 14

(L–R) 14.1: ‘선미의…’ (@official_sunmi 2020); 14.2: ‘We’ll update you more…’ (@washingtonpost 2020); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R) 14.1: ‘선미의…’ (@official_sunmi 2020); 14.2: ‘We’ll update you more…’ (@washingtonpost 2020); All screenshots by the author.

Figure 15

(L–R) 15.1: ‘its the bow for…’ (@mirandasings 2020); 15.2: ‘Please please tag me…’ (@annaclendening 2020); 15.3: ‘Honestly thank god i…’ (@troyesivan 2020); 15.4: ‘Roadman saying #roadman #ukroadman…’ (@koreanbilly 2020); All screenshots by the author.
(L–R) 15.1: ‘its the bow for…’ (@mirandasings 2020); 15.2: ‘Please please tag me…’ (@annaclendening 2020); 15.3: ‘Honestly thank god i…’ (@troyesivan 2020); 15.4: ‘Roadman saying #roadman #ukroadman…’ (@koreanbilly 2020); All screenshots by the author.
eISSN:
1836-0416
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
Volume Open
Journal Subjects:
Linguistics and Semiotics, Semiotics, Biosemiotics, Computer Sciences, Human-Machine Interaction, Cultural Studies, Cultural Theory, General Cultural Theory, Topics in Cultural Studies, Human-Animal Studies
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