Social Climbing Online
Social Networking: A Nouveau Riche Paradise on the Internet
Welcome to a new era of nouveau riche. Online networking sites are a virtual paradise for the traditional social climber.
From shamelessly scheming Becky Sharpe, to C-Class starlets whoring out Hollywood nightclubs, the shameful popularity of social climbing continues to retain its customary appeal. Far from being ousted by an injection of humility and virtue into modern society, it appears that the availability of new social networking devices has resulted in a reshuffling of traditional values, with personal integrity losing ground to materialism, social status and, of course, the all-telling Facebook friends count.
The central question remains: have relationships, online or otherwise, in modern society really come to be defined by what daddy does for a living?
The Traditional Social Climber
Whilst it may have undergone a process of evolution over time, the social climber is by no means a modern species. Historically a creature lacking in familial pedigree, significant wealth or singular achievement, the genus has developed less natural ways to rub shoulders with the perceived "elite" of society. This process no doubt requires value sacrifices, with humility and modesty being threatened by a process that often involves deception and self-promotion.
It is for this reason that the social climbing species – often sub-categorised as "nouveau riche" – are viewed through a largely disapproving eye. Ousted by their original class due to an apparent lack of substance, yet often seen to lack the experience, taste and finesse of ‘old money’, they exist in a constant purgatory of ladder-climbing and grovelling to raise their status.
Hardly a life to be envious of.
Why then does the phenomenon remain so widespread in society? With the rise of reality TV "celebrities", sassy socialites a la Nicole Richie, and "exclusive" online networks, it seems that the species has become even more defined in the world today. Is this merely due to the brash, overtly-confident and often selfish nature of a new generation? Or could it really, like so much else in the modern world, all be linked back to technology?
The Online Phenomenon
From battling it out in the slums of social Siberia, to befriending Paris Hilton and purchasing a sailor outfit for Nicole’s new bub, all in the space of half an hour. It’s just a normal part of everyday life in the online realm.
The virtual world is a social climber’s heaven. A culture famous for its democratic principles, networking sites such as MySpace and Facebook are easily available to anyone with access to the World Wide Web. No longer the exclusive realm of unsigned bands and friendless computer geeks, membership to one or more of these numerous sites has become a prerequisite for success in modern society.
For the traditional social climber, networking sites provide a unique opportunity – the ability to scale the class hierarchy whilst maintaining an appropriate level of nonchalance. Herein lies the possibility of becoming ‘online friends’ with an individual perceived to be of a higher social status, and hence attempting to transfer this connection into the "real world" (invariably through the employment of numerous online stalking techniques).
Of course, the new generation social climber will always remain aware of the required limitations. Despite the degree of detachment that an online persona provides, peddling for "popular" friends with the discrimination of a scatter-gun remains a social faux pas – the online equivalent of a desperate nouveau riche.
Adding further fuel to the fire, website developers have been quick to pick up on the social climbing schemas of the X and Y Generations. Whilst sites such as Facebook and MySpace allow for the heightening of status within a set friendship network, their open-door policies cannot replace the lure of exclusiveness and scarcity within the upper echelons of society. Enter Asmallworld, otherwise known as "snobster", a private invite-only community for those "elite" members of society who travel in their own private jets, spend their summers in the Hamptons and would not be seen dead with a last season Louis Vuitton (sorry social climbers, no free entry here – you’ll have to work your way up to this one).
The Verdict
The pivotal questions remain: are online networking sites really creating a generation of social climbers? Has dignity and true integrity been destroyed in the quest for money, power and connections?
From a historical perspective, perhaps the situation is not so dire. Social climbing is by no means a new phenomenon; it has merely become more visible with the creation of online networks.
No doubt if Becky Sharpe had the technology that is available today, her "online friends" would be subject to a strict judgment process of attractiveness, popularity and, of course, material worth. Whilst it may seem shallow, this process continues to be adhered to by select individuals in both the virtual and "real" worlds.
Luckily, not all people are clones of Becky Sharpe.
