The new kingmakers: How Silicon Valley created a new culture of celebrity

Jillian York Twitter launched its verification program, a symbol of
fame and recognition initially handed out to major
celebrities—actors, pro athletes, journalists, and the like.
Facebook and YouTube soon followed, and in doing so, created an
ecosystem whereby American corporations decide who's "in" and who
isn't, who matters and who doesn't.  Today, verification comes
with certain privileges—better features and a lower likelihood of
being censored, for starters—but it is the creation of celebrity,
the elevation of some at the expense of others by corporate actors
that should concern us. This talk will explore the new kingmakers
and the impact of their creation of celebrity on society.