This was the troublesome aspect of social media. The following system showed who followed or unfollowed who. The public’s eyes were constantly watching them. At first, some people viewed it with disdain. What was so important about following each other? It was just a game of online friendships. What was the significance of making or breaking those connections?2

One thing had to be acknowledged. Human relationships now had an additional layer. It was not just entirely independent. Relationships formed online were not necessarily less intimate, and meeting in person didn’t automatically make the bond stronger. They simply had different characteristics with pros and cons.0

Nowadays, nobody made a fuss about following or not following someone. It was understood that it didn’t matter. It was undeniable. This was especially true among celebrities. There were countless examples. A legendary rapper once released an 18-minute diss track because someone unfollowed them. Famous artists overseas following a domestic star could become a headline in the media. It didn’t seem like such a distant story for Almond right...1