Social Currency: A successful social experiment

AimWhat happens when eight influencers stripped of their superpower are brought together under one roofIntroductionNetflixrsquos latest reality show Social Currency tests eight social media influencers in the real world without their superpower Instagram followers The idea is to determine who will be the most liked influencer on and off their phone screens The survival is accounted for by the amount each contestant earns throughout the eight episodes in addition to the votes they collect after spending almost 21 days together in GoaHypothesisReality or engineered reality always sells like hot cakes The concept borrows from one of Indiarsquos most popular shows Bigg BossmdashBigg Boss of the GenZ if you will But it will go beyond to address some relevant topics about this generationrsquos dependency on social media their selfworth in the absence of it and its effect on mental healthMethodInfluencers Ruhi Singh Bhavin Bhanushali Akash Mehta Mridul Madhok Vagmita Singh Parth Samthaan Rowhi Rai and Sakshi Chopra participate in the T20 of Bigg Boss They come from different walks of life with their own issues insecurities abundant followers or lack thereof The show kicks off with interesting challenges some in keeping with the influencersrsquo forte and others outside their comfort zone In one instance they are tasked with drawing crowd to a pub with entertainement while in another they have to sell handmade products at the market make short reels edit them and collaborate with stars within a given deadline But the show finds its groove as the contestants over time showcase their vulnerable side sharing their personal stories of abuse and mental health concernsWhatrsquos a reality show without some drama Despite her early exit from the show singing influencer Chopra gives ample dope for drama After her exit she recently posted her views on the show and the alleged psychological stress she went through during the challenges After Choprarsquos exit the show boldly shared print screens of her personal messagesmdashprint screened by the crewmdashwith the other contestantsMidway through the season viewers may start feeling FOMO as the party scene of Goa calls out to them We vicariously refresh our memories of the bylanes clubs beaches and popular hangouts of GoamdashTotos and Mambosmdashthrough the eight contestants The surprise visit by Sunny Leone is explosive YouTuberinfluencers Ashish Chanchlani Kusha Kapila and rapper Badshah add their unique charm to the mix while asking the contenders to be sensitive and their authentic selvesObservationSocial Currency is a unique concept executed with sensitivity and responsibility From body shaming to selfdoubt from depression and anxiety to sexual abuse the intimate nature of the show allows the contestants to bare their heart thus normalising these conversations and dispelling several misguided notions along the way The memes and Bhanushalirsquos onelinersmdashlsquoGhar ki beti sona nahin bechegirsquomdashare thoroughly entertaining Mehta may have emerged victorious but we believe the true winner should have been Singh owing to her relatable original and quirky writingDiscussionThe showrsquos theme warrants a discussion with psychiatry consultant Dr Kersi Chavda who practices in Hinduja hospital Chavda explains that the show at its core explores how different personalities react to pressure and when they are out of their comfort zone ldquoBeing locked up in a house is like a pressure cooker Pressure is not necessarily external it is more of a genetic disposition Whether they are social influencers or bakers each one would react in a particular way because of a genetic component When yoursquore stuck in a house for 21 days and donrsquot have the freedom to step out it could act as a stressor If a person has a predisposition to claustrophobia or is a socially tempered person who is not allowed to mingle she will feel an effectrdquo he sharesWhat adds another layer of stress for influencers whose livelihood depends on their follower count is losing hardearned followers and popularity Chavda elaborates ldquoWhen suddenly their followers and fame are not there people will experience withdrawal They will be scared wondering if they have what it takes whether it is worth it or will people still be interested in them Everybody knows that social media is fragile and fakerdquo So for those who plan to attempt this show in the next season mental preparation is keyConclusionNetflixrsquos social experiment is a success Making something different in the reality space can be an uphill task but the show is leaps and bounds ahead in creativity and execution