How does it feel to see celebrities and influencers flaunt their wealth at the Met Gala while everyday people struggle to make ends meet? Or simply survive?

Monday was the Met Gala, where tickets cost $75,000 each and a table was priced at $300,000.

You saw celebrities adorned in outfits worth more than most of our homes, parading on the red carpet in front of the cameras.

The stark contrast was striking as Israel simultaneously launched its invasion into the so-called "safe zone" of Rafah, home to 1.5 million displaced Palestinians.

The Met Gala’s theme was about the "Garden of Time," inspired by a short story where wealthy people pluck crystal flowers to slow down an angry mob trying to destroy them.

Despite their efforts, the mob eventually catches up and destroys everything but a thorn-covered statue.

This opulence was extremely distasteful, given the economic challenges faced by the rest of the world.

Most Americans are one medical bill away from being homeless.

Celebrity and influencer culture has become increasingly out-of-touch, and the worship of these self-obsessed individuals only contributes to distractions that prevent people from focusing on real issues.

You may not have realized it yet, but these celebrities are enjoying their brief time in the spotlight while acting as a buffer between us and the real billionaires and politicians who control the economy.

In the "Garden of Time," the thorn-covered statue is the only thing left standing after the mob arrives, symbolizing the hidden 1% who remain safe while the visible celebrities fall from grace.

Celebrity Worship Is a Distraction

Celebrities distract you from systemic inequities, entertaining you with frivolous discourse while making money off your attention.

Whether it's positive or negative, their popularity means more press, which translates into more money for them.

The Met Gala exemplifies this disconnect, where influencers and celebrities bask in the spotlight while people struggle with rising costs of living, economic instability, and political turmoil.

Watching them parade their privilege can be infuriating, especially when they are marketed as role models and leaders.

If you want to learn more about why this year’s Met Gala was so controversial, learn more here.

Digital Attention Economy and the Impact on You

In today's digital attention economy, celebrities and influencers thrive on your attention.

They can't make money without you.

This week, as you scroll through social media and see posts from the Met Gala, consider how much time you spend on these celebrities versus content that actually matters to your personal development.

Celebrity Worship & Influencer Culture is Killing Us

A few months ago, I watched a very eye-opening video from a marketing expert breaking down one of the Kardashian's health products.

The packaging was incredible, the branding impeccable, and the marketing absolutely genius.

But when the expert started digging deeper, it turned out that this so-called "health product" was just glorified candy with negligible health benefits.

The Kardashian brand had essentially taken a mediocre product, wrapped it in excellent marketing, and sold it at an insanely overpriced rate.

It was a scam dressed in designer packaging.

That video made me realize that many celebrities are glorified scammers.

They're successful not because they offer quality products or valuable insights, but because they're skilled at selling an illusion.

There’s Lead in Our Lunchables

The problem isn't just the products themselves—it's the culture that glorifies consumption without regard for the negative impacts on our health and well-being.

This harmful trend extends to popular kids’ foods like Lunchables, which have been found to contain dangerous levels of lead and cadmium.

Shockingly, it's not just Lunchables; testers have found that 100% of fast-food restaurants had lead and cadmium in their samples.

Despite this, celebrities continue to endorse and promote these brands, making them staples in many households.

But these products, along with other processed foods, have been poisoning us for years.

Around the same time, I heard about Logan Paul's hydration drink, Prime, which was found to contain three times the lifetime maximum limit of forever chemicals in a single serving.

This was a wake-up call about how dangerous celebrity culture can be.

Many of these brands hire influencers to promote their products, regardless of the long-term impacts on consumers.

I decided enough was enough.

I started blocking any large influencers or celebrities who promoted things that didn't align with the world I wanted to live in.

This is the major driving force behind the new movement BlockOut2024.

I blocked all the Kardashians and many other big names who were more interested in selling a brand than advocating for meaningful change.

I blocked luxury brands, entertainers, and athletes.

I blocked all their brands as well.

I cleaned up my feed from mindless consumption and superficial content.

The results have been amazing.

My social media feed is now full of inspiring thought leaders, educators, and advocates who align with my values.

I'm more conscious of what I consume, both online and offline, and I no longer buy into the hype of overpriced celebrity products.

It’s saved me money, and my health has benefited as well.

Plus, I know the billionaires aren’t making money off of me anymore.

The biggest difference, though, is that my mind feels clearer.

I’m not bombarded with flashy ads or manipulated by carefully curated lifestyles.

I control what influences me, and that control has made a world of difference.

Starving The Digital Attention Economy

To effectively reclaim your attention from celebrities and reduce their influence, it's crucial to understand how they monetize your views, likes, and even dislikes:

• Positive and Negative Attention: Every like, comment, or share adds to their visibility and increases their popularity. Even critical comments or hate-watching contribute to their metrics, ultimately leading to more revenue through sponsorships, ads, and endorsements.

• Block and Starve: By blocking celebrities and brands from your feed, you deny them the attention they need to maintain and grow their influence. They can't make money off you if they're not getting your views.

Action Steps:

• Unfollow and Block: Start by blocking celebrities, brands, channels, and influencers whose content doesn't align with your values. Even if they aren’t someone you follow or normally engage with.

• Limit Your Exposure: Avoid channels and pages known for celebrity gossip or news.

Algorithmic Manipulation

Use social media algorithms to your advantage by intentionally curating a feed that inspires personal growth and aligns with your interests.

Steps to Reclaim Your Feed:

1. Identify Voices Worth Following:

• Seek Thought Leaders: Look for thought leaders, educators, and organizations whose content resonates with your values and goals.

• Focus on Growth: Follow accounts centered on personal development, skill-building, and positive change.

• Level Up with Spiral Dynamics: Understand your current stage of Spiral Dynamics ego development. Create a new social media account that exclusively follows individuals or organizations embodying the next stage, providing yourself with exposure therapy to inspire your growth into the person you want to become.

2. Block Unwanted Accounts:

• Block all high-profile celebrities who don't align with your values or provide little value to your life.

• Consider blocking or muting accounts to ensure they don't appear in your recommendations.

3. Curate a Positive Feed:

• Engage with Valuable Content: Like, share, and comment on content that aligns with your interests.

• Hide Irrelevant Recommendations: Use the "Not Interested" or "Don't Show" options to refine your recommendations.

4. Discover New Quality Content:

• Explore niche communities or hashtags that resonate with your interests.

• Join groups or follow accounts that share your passions and values.

5. Periodic Purges:

• Regularly review your following list and unfollow any account that no longer aligns with your interests or goals.

By following these steps, you'll create a healthier social media environment that prioritizes meaningful content over celebrity culture. You have the power to control what you consume and to reclaim your attention for things that genuinely enrich your life.

How to Hit Celebrities & Brands Where it Hurts—Their Wallets

Celebrities often have multiple business ventures—makeup lines, clothing brands, vitamin companies, and more. By strategically engaging with these brands online, you can directly impact their bottom line. Here's how:

1. Add to Cart & Abandon: Fill your online shopping cart with their products and leave it at the checkout stage without completing the purchase. This tactic:

   • Limits Product Availability: Products remain in your cart, reducing availability for genuinely interested customers.

   • Confuses Marketing Teams: Marketing teams struggle to understand product demand and consumer behavior, leading to flawed insights.

2. Waste Their Marketing Dollars:

   • Abandoned carts trigger "retargeting," a marketing technique where ads are repeatedly shown to encourage you to complete your purchase.

   • By not finalizing the purchase, you'll force them to spend on ineffective ads, draining their marketing budget.

3. Repeat the Process Across Brands: Apply this approach to all their business ventures, maximizing financial disruption.

In short, we're going to use their own marketing strategies against them, creating a drain on their resources while confusing their business teams.

Start with Kim Kardashian: 

1. Go to Skims: Head to Kim's store, Skims, and add as many items as possible to your cart. It doesn't matter which products you choose; just fill the cart.

2. Abandon Your Cart: Leave the items in your shopping cart and abandon the checkout process just before paying.

3. Waste Their Marketing Dollars: Ignore their "retargeting" efforts.

Weed Your Feed

Take a moment to cleanse your feed.

Start by identifying celebrities/influencers who frequently irritate or frustrate you with their extravagant lifestyles or controversial opinions.

Consider blocking the Kardashians, influencers flaunting excessive wealth, celebrity gossip accounts that focus solely on trivial drama, or anyone whose content doesn't align with your values.

Replace these blocked accounts with people who provide genuine value.

Here are a few tips to curate a more enriching feed:

• Identify Thought Leaders: Seek out individuals who offer insightful, thought-provoking content related to personal development, financial literacy, mental health, and education.

• Follow Quality Content: Engage with educators, writers, activists, and mentors who resonate with your goals.

• Engage Purposefully: Like, comment, and share posts that genuinely inspire you. The more you interact with high-quality content, the more you'll see it in your feed.

Putting it All Together: Take Control of Your Attention and Reject Celebrity Culture

Now, it's time for you to take action and reclaim your attention.

1. Understand the Digital Attention Economy

Celebrities and influencers profit from your attention, whether it's positive or negative. Each like, share, or even hate-comment feeds their popularity and bank accounts. By reducing or eliminating their presence in your digital life, you can starve them of the very currency they rely on.

2. Create a Block List

Identify celebrities, influencers, brands, and other accounts that contribute to this culture of overconsumption. If they promote unattainable lifestyles, flaunt their wealth, or push products in ways that make you feel inadequate, it's time to block them. Here’s how you can start:

• Social Media Accounts: Go through your social media platforms and systematically block those who thrive on attention-seeking or make money off you.

• Advertisements: Use ad-blocking tools and preferences to eliminate celebrity-endorsed ads.

3. Curate a Feed That Enriches You

Instead of mindlessly scrolling through celebrity gossip and influencer ads, seek out and follow thought leaders, educators, and communities that align with your values and interests. Your feed should inspire, uplift, and educate you.

4. Focus on Purposeful Consumption

Celebrity culture thrives on overconsumption and frivolous spending. Break the cycle by consciously evaluating your purchases and reducing unnecessary consumption:

• Ask Before You Buy: Do I need this, or am I influenced by marketing?

• Support Ethical Brands: Choose brands that prioritize sustainability and fair practices.

• Embrace Minimalism: Simplify your lifestyle by owning fewer, higher-quality items.

5. Embrace Mindful Media Consumption

Lastly, be mindful of your media consumption. Choose content that aligns with your goals and values rather than following what's trending.

• Switch to Documentaries and Educational Content: Shift from celebrity reality shows to documentaries that provide insights into topics you care about.

• Read More: Dive into books and articles that challenge your thinking and expand your horizons.

Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Attention and Rejecting Celebrity Culture

The Met Gala serves as a striking symbol of the widening gap between the ultra-wealthy and everyday people struggling to make ends meet.

Celebrities and brands flaunt their opulence, distracting us from systemic inequities while profiting off our attention in the digital economy.

Yet, this need not be the status quo.

Reclaiming your attention and curating a meaningful digital space starts with understanding how celebrities monetize every like, comment, and view.

By systematically unfollowing and blocking accounts that glorify consumption and extravagance, you deny them the currency they thrive on.

Instead, fill your feed with thought leaders, educators, and communities that align with your values.

Take this opportunity to block those who frustrate or irritate you with unattainable lifestyles and superficial content.

Replace them with quality voices that challenge your thinking and inspire positive change.

Ultimately, it's about shifting your focus from mindless consumption to purposeful engagement.

Choose brands that prioritize sustainability, invest in personal growth, and seek out educational content that expands your horizons.

The Met Gala may continue to parade its privilege, but you have the power to reject its allure.

Weed your feed, reclaim your attention, and prioritize content that genuinely enriches your life.

By doing so, you'll be better equipped to focus on what truly matters and free yourself from the distractions of celebrity culture.

Stay curious,

Addie LaMarr