Is that camera on?

Content creation has taken the world by storm in a short amount of time, infiltrating all sectors. Politicians are making quirky Tik Toks to connect with their young voters. Businesses are becoming more centralized through social media. Schools are even bringing the community together through content that emulates professional media with just an iPhone. But with the fast-growing industry of social media, always comes question of integrity.

So let’s talk about it….

There’s been an influx of videos generating on social media involving businesses conducting “legit checks” on camera. A “legit check” is when a sneaker expert is given a pair of sneakers by a customer or potentional customer to assess and judge the quality. Basically just an authentication service.

These people are regarded as professionals due to their knowledge and how often they deal with sneakers on a regular basis. They usually have access to reliable retail connections so if they don’t know, they can find you someone who does.

But with the title of “professional” it comes with a certain level of patience for those who might not be as informed as you. It also implies that you can conduct practices in a reasonable and respectful manner.

Recording your clients/potential sellers interactions for purposes other than safety can have its advantages and disadvantages as far as monetization goes. In some cases you get some cool grails (rare sneaker) that you want to broadcast for your viewers to see. As a business, having your audience seeing great products coming to your store can better your reputation. Also great for a store archive to show the products you’ve had before reselling them. Another positive with recording content is that your audience is able to see a payout for their items. Seeing stores pay money for any shoe, grabs the attention of people in the sneaker community because they can now see your business as a financial security blanket for themselves.

This fad I first remember seeing started in sneaker conventions at tables with vendors. It’s now slowly making its way to stores. While engagement helps businesses, recording customers and posting them without their consent can be harmful.

As hard is it may be to believe, a large amount of consumers don’t do their due diligence when it comes to making purchases. Which also means a lot of people get scammed. Now a lot of the time it's hard to empathize with people who go to businesses looking for a payout with fakes because it seems like they’re trying to trick the business but that’s not always the case. As someone providing a service, it is wrong to vilify your customer for seeking clarity.

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Times are becoming increasingly difficult for many, and having once sold a pair of shoes to afford a decent meal, now is not the time to shame people for online attention. This business approach isn't practiced in reputable service establishments for a reason. For instance, GameStop doesn't record customers attempting to sell electronics or share client information for engagement purposes. Similarly, retail stores would never film customers returning clothes they couldn't afford and post it online to illustrate their return policy. It's simply poor business practice.

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What is considered appropriate or inappropriate, professional or unprofessional? Social media ethics is a relatively new idea that still has a long journey ahead. While cyberbullying laws, censorship, and security guidelines can somewhat manage the toxic atmosphere that social media might cultivate if used irresponsibly, ethics is a concept that humans have developed over centuries within their various cultures. Let me stress the importance of culture.

Kim Kardasian promoting her “vintage style” Balenciaga $825 t-shirt

Fashion is among the most expressive art forms recognized by society. In America, our fashion has always been layered due to the diverse creative minds residing here, influencing one another and introducing unique styles. Additionally, fashion has served as a means for oppressed individuals to establish identity through trauma and pain.

The allure of streetwear in America lies in its historical impact on global fashion trends. Every current or upcoming trend is essentially an imitation or adaptation of a concept pioneered by streetwear. This is why many viewed Virgil's appointment as creative director as a significant victory for streetwear... or was it? Much like in music, when it appears that our prolonged struggle for acknowledgment is rewarded, we often face the consequences of exploitation.

Today, the fashion industry increasingly promotes concepts that lack substance and fail to capture the true essence of art. As the global political climate shifts towards conservatism and right-wing ideologies, this is mirrored in the art world, where previously exclusive domains are being accessed with minimal consideration for their historical significance.

Individuals are opting to overlook the realities of products with textiles sourced from Africa, manufactured in China, and marketed under the "Milan" label. There is a tendency to romanticize formal wear, positioning it as an alternative to streetwear, which is often dismissed as immature. Immigrants are being stereotyped and judged for their sacred religious garments. These are issues people believed we had moved past, but this cultural shift reveals that not much has changed.