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By Katie Cambron, Class of 2016
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| Katie Cambron |
Hi, my name is Katie, and I’m addicted to BuzzFeed. This addiction seems to have spawned overnight and now consumes a large majority of my free time. After reading a few shared articles on Facebook, I soon discovered the intellectual wit that BuzzFeed publishes. I now have the app and admit that I check for updated stories as soon as a wakeup, during class breaks, and before bed. The up and coming media giant is revolutionizing the way I spend my free time and keep up with current politics and events.
As much as I hate to admit it, I watch the news much less than I should. With classes, studying, and extra-curricular activities, there is little time to sit down to watch the evening news cast. Besides, TV news casts are typically lack luster, hosted by monotone old men who deliver discouraging current events. Don’t get me wrong, we should all be informed citizens, but many of my peers, including myself, would be much more willing to keep on current events if certain stories were presented with a more upbeat tone and perspective. This is where BuzzFeed comes in. Stories present on the media site tend to be more lighthearted and poke intellectual fun at politicians and economic situations. Take for example Toronto mayor Rob Ford. If it weren’t for BuzzFeed’s article “21 Ways To Be The Worst Politician In The World”, I would have never known about this latest political scandal. I’m much more inclined to read these short, light-hearted exposes than to read or watch dry, seemingly never-ending news stories.
In addition, to the political knowledge I gain from BuzzFeed, it never fails to deliver a stress-relieving laugh. I’ve always been fan of silly lists and editorials. In recent weeks, I’ve found several editorials that I can relate to, proving that I am in fact obsessed with Christmas and that I greatly miss childhood. It is common for my sorority sisters and me to share the articles we find with one another to provide a laugh. Pointless articles about the simplest things, like the worst spelling mistakes in America, always seem to make you feel a little better about your day.
If you think my obsession with BuzzFeed sounds far-fetched, know that this is a common phenomenon that is taking my generation by storm. Let’s face it, we want everything in a condensed and enjoyable version. Keeping up on current events shouldn’t feel like a chore, it should be something that people enjoy reading and watching. With social media giants like Twitter, Facebook and now BuzzFeed, journalism as we know it is changing. We are now in a world where entertainment and political avenues are converging. If you are unfamiliar with BuzzFeed, take a look and discover all that the site has to offer. And if you have already jumped on the bandwagon, then feel ahead of the journalistic trends that the world is headed toward. Watch out, BuzzFeed is about to take the world by storm.
Katie Cambron is a sophomore McConnell Scholar at the University of Louisville. She is pursuing a major in Economics and a minor in Political Science.