Does anyone remember how fans used to show support for their favorite celebrities? Before social media, webzines and message boards, fans would write letters to musicians, actors or performers regularly, professing their love, adoration and undying loyalty.
"Before social media, I think fan letters were really the only option out there," said Jennifer Winters, a self-proclaimed New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) mega fan, who has supported the boy band since age 8. "Social media has made being a fan easier because you don't have to wait days and days to get a response back."
What used to be a private interaction between fan and superstar — sending a fan letter and potentially receiving a reply — has become a very public event in the form of a follow, retweet or reply on Twitter. And for many fans, a follow from their favorite artist ranks up there among their most memorable days on Earth.
The Celebrity Follow Back
Laura Caro, a 15-year-old "Belieber" from Ontario, remembers the exact day Justin Bieber followed her on Twitter: Jan. 20, 2013. "I remember perfectly what I was doing. I was getting ready to go out, when suddenly I got a notification that Justin had tweeted, so I immediately went on Twitter and started tweeting like crazy … asking him for a follow."
It may not seem like a long shot to get a follow back from the teen pop star — a celebrity like Justin Bieber has more than 40 million Twitter followers, but also follows more than 122,000 accounts. But Bieber, during any hour of the day, can receive upwards of 100,000 mentions, making chances slim that he will see your tweet.
Caro continued tweeting at Bieber, but she wasn't getting a follow. Then, it happened: "Suddenly, I got a notification, and there it was: 'Justin Bieber followed you,'" she said. "I ran to my sister crying and speechless. I told my mom and she started crying with me because she truly saw how happy it made me. I will never forget that day."
But for every fan Bieber follows, there are potentially millions more who spend each day tweeting at him, asking for a follow and perhaps never finding success.
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