Rebecca Black returns: 2011 hit singer talks overcoming bullying
For many people who go viral on the internet, there is an immense amount of pressure on them. People who have seen their videos may recognize them on the street, and depending on the content released to the public, people may ridicule viral sensations for their content. Rebecca Black, a girl who rose to popularity at the young age of 13 years old, is well-known for her hit 2011 song “Friday.”
As of late, Black posted two pictures on Instagram and Twitter — a recent photo of herself at 22 years old with a trendy short haircut and red knee-high boots, and a picture of herself from nine years ago. Her caption moved people on the internet, whether they followed her.
In her caption, she discusses how she wishes she could go back and reassure her younger self about being more open about her depression, the bullying she faced and the rejection she dealt with in the music industry.
Through this post, Black shows she wants to move on from her past and better herself every day, which includes maintaining hope that each day will be improved than the last.
As a young girl, it was exciting for Black to sing a song provided for her by a company, perform in a music video and jump-start her singing career. Yet, everything did not go as planned for Black.
Instead, when her music video was released, people would joke about the stupidity of the song and her poor singing. Ever her own peers at school would bully and belittle her. At such a young age, Black was already experiencing shame and regret.
Bullying on the internet is on a more intense than bullying before technology. On the internet, people can remain anonymous and say whatever they want without worrying about the consequences of their words.
People are very quick to change and overshare their opinions without a filter. If these viewers were given a chance to tell Black that they hated her music and video in real life, some would think twice about voicing how they feel.
Although these interactions may not occur face to face, there’s still a person on the other side of the screen reading these comments and viewing all the likes and dislikes. This can tear a person apart.
Internet bullying is excessive and far too critical.
Black is making huge strides for herself and others by setting an example of fighting through the pain and the haters. She is opening up a conversation about mental health and well-being for people of all ages, but more specifically girls in their teens.
A good takeaway from her recent post is to not worry about what others may think of you, and instead, learn to love yourself and prioritize yourself. Each day should be taken as a chance to start fresh and make the most of what is given to you. Although she hasn’t been taken too seriously in the music industry, she is fighting to make her mark and to show people her real, vulnerable self.
Most importantly, Black wants to show people that she is much more than the girl who sang “Friday.” She is a serious artist and songwriter who is willing to overcome her past and come to terms with her depression and consistent rejection.
Instead of turning away from social media, a platform that ruined her image for quite some time, she now uses it to promote herself and be more open about her life.
