In the past, the popularity of an individual was tied to his ability and to a real social utility or transposition. Today is just the exposure.
Getting exposure is the only obstacle for the differentiation of a person from another. In the era of Internet, information is faster and superficial. Images and video are the main tools of communication. The devices have enlarged screens and even phones has been transformed from auditory to visual apparatus.
The certainty of sources and information on the Internet is difficult to verify, and then the users of the network can be defined as "potentially" more informed but actually more ignorant. The in-depth analysis have become almost useless, only short visual messages get attention. This superficiality of knowledge is also reflected in interpersonal relationships that also become increasingly shallow and fast.
Exposure is the sole end and the means by which to reach it does not matter.
Every talent or ability is now subject to the Exposure (and not the other way around) as a result once you get enough exposure you can perform multiple tasks. Let's take an extreme example to clarify the concept. Andrew Breivik, author of Utoya massacre in Norway in 2011, got an exposure that allows him to do basically whatever he wants . Design a line of clothing, write a book or a movie or run a website. The outraged comments all over the world would just be the best advertising.
This cultural and social trend continues to push us inevitably and increasingly rapidly downward
We live in a cultural numbness generated by the flow of media images.