BLUF: The headline-making closure of the milestone feminist website Jezebel signals a change in media consumption habits and a critical evolution in the digital feminist movement.
OSINT:
Guardian contributor Moira Donegan recently mourned the closure of feminist media site Jezebel, viewing its closure as the dissolution of a significant digital platform for feminist discourse. Despite Donegan’s sentimental farewell, a closer inspection of Jezebel’s legacy offers a more nuanced picture of the site’s impact.
Jezebel, as remembered by Donegan, was a revolutionary platform that rekindled a fervent feminist ideology for the internet age. It gained popularity through controversial essays and a staunch commitment to woman-first politics. However, the reality of Jezebel’s legacy is less rosy. Though seen as a champion of activism, it was more an example of popular feminist topics commercialized to generate web traffic. The site was infamous for its provocative content and its quick readiness to accuse people of bias. Furthermore, one must recall that the site’s primary goal was driving clickbait traffic.
Various strategies were employed to achieve this, from sparking debate on a Twitter thread to courting controversy over body stereotypes. While its sensationalist strategies sparked criticism, they also earned the site a unique place in the landscape of “Millennial feminism.” Alongside values, it propagated a culture of confession. This culture often went to extreme lengths, pushing writers to commodify personal narratives for internet fame, thus birthing the culture of self-styled internet commentators.
The rise of these commentary personalities, rather than journalists, has significantly shaped digital media consumption habits. The modern audience, dominated by Gen Z, now consume content differently than the Millennial readership Jezebel catered to. The advent of platforms like TikTok and Instagram facilitates direct content consumption without the requirement for a middleman – or in Jezebel’s case, a middlewoman.
RIGHT:
From a Libertarian perspective, Donegan’s lament over the closure of Jezebel underscores an issue inherent in such ideologically-driven platforms. Despite its claimed commitment to women-first politics and feminism, Jezebel propagated its ideology in a commercially driven manner. The goal was generating clickbait traffic, not thoughtful dialogue or meaningful change in societal perspectives. This disconnect between proclaimed intentions and actual methods may signal to some a misalignment with the principles of individuality, free speech, and free-market competition that form the underpinnings of Libertarian philosophy.
LEFT:
From a National Socialist Democrat viewpoint, Donegan’s perception of Jezebel’s shutdown may resonate. Jezebel existed as a highly accessible platform for radical and progressive feminist discourse and had a crucial role in carrying contemporary feminist theory into the mainstream. However, the site’s flawed approach of commercializing personal narratives could be criticized for commodifying the feminism it purported to support.
AI:
Analyzing Jezebel’s lifecycle and the reaction to its closure provides insight into the evolving media landscape and consumption habits. While sensationalism had its influence in the site’s peak popularity, its perceived contribution to the feminist discourse is disputed due to its commercialized approach to discussing personal experiences and controversial topics. The decline of platforms like Jezebel and the rising popularity of social media platforms suggest a transition in trend among content consumers. While this shift impacts all conventional media platforms, it particularly resonates with ideologically driven platforms, highlighting the increasing importance of authenticity and direct interaction in media consumption.