Skip to main content

WTF, Internet? Celebrities don’t need their own apps (and neither do you)

Celebrity apps
Image used with permission by copyright holder

I’ve said it many times: I love Instagram. I also love hip-hop. So you would think, naturally, this means the day I started following Snoop on Instagram would have been a red-letter day!

Recommended Videos

Well, it was – for a little while. Back then, Snoop was posting photos of his wake-n-baking, red carpet-attending, studio sesh-filled, Oregon Ducks-supporting lifestyle. I was amused, and I approved.

But then, a dark day descended in the form of the Snoopify app. In case you were unaware, Snoop has his own app. Honestly, I sort of like it: Who doesn’t want to deck themselves out like so:

snoopify example
Magical. Just magical. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Don’t lie. I know you do. You all do.

Unfortunately, however, the app includes an option to share these images to Instagram. That’s where the problem comes in: Snoop really, really likes Instagram. He also really, really likes self-promotion. Thus every time I open up Instagram, there they are: A damn hoard of Snoop’s Snoopified photos.

Snoop, you are ruining my feed. Just ruining it.

He is unfortunately not alone – there are far, far too many official celebrity apps. There exists a Chris Brown app for the four people that don’t hate that guy (yet), and a Britney Spears app, dubbed It’s Britney!. T-Pain’s I am T-Pain app (let’s all just appreciate that naming scheme for a moment) is a thing that is real and exists. There is – I shit you not – an official Reba McEntire app so you can keep up on her Twitter, blog, concerts, etc. All things Reba, all the time. What a world!

Why do celebrities think they need their own standalone apps? Why can’t you just use apps like the rest of us? Is that not good enough for you?

You do not need that much Chris Brown in your life, weirdo.

Think about it: Say you’re interested in the previously mentioned Chris Brown app (I hate you, we’re no longer friends). The app makes sure you know when he posts to his Tumblr, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter. So then you natively get your Chris Brown info here … but you also probably follow him on those sites. But the second you open those apps up, you’re once again greeted by the same stuff you already saw.

That is just excessive Chris Brown, plain and simple. You do not need that much Chris Brown in your life, weirdo.

What’s really terrifying about all this is what it could lead to. Yes, reader, I’m about to make a Slippery Slope argument (shout out to all my fellow high school debaters who identified, groaned, and yelled “logical fallacy!” at that). Hop on this Slip ‘N Slide and away we go!

snoopify
It’s time to chill on the Snoopify. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Right now, it’s celebrities who think they deserve these apps … but pretty soon, it’s going to be everyone. Social media has turned us into these narcissistic, hyper-connected, self-obsessed, faux celebrities. People rattle off how many retweets they got, how many people like their Facebook status, how many Instagram followers they have as proof of popularity. Social currency isn’t just a fun term – it’s a real thing that can get you stuff. Stuff and money!

So once this happens, not only will we have social apps in which we follow and engage with our friends, we’ll also each have our own apps that loop in all the content we’re creating with our various social apps, and then there will – naturally – be apps so that people can collect and browse all of their friends’ apps, which, as a reminder, contain previously mentioned social-app activity.

Apps!

The only solution I can see is to cut everybody down a notch, and that means I’m starting with Snoop. You’re outta my Instagram feed. Social media should be all about moderation, and this is pure gluttony. 

I’m sorry it had to come to this, but I’m trying to save the world from itself here, one horrible social app at a time. We all need to check ourselves before we wreck ourselves. 

Molly McHugh
Former Social Media/Web Editor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
Whatever you do, don’t buy the Google Pixel 7a right now
Google Pixel 7a in Snow in hand.

Google I/O 2024 is just a month away. We expect Android 15 to be shown off, and some hardware, too. In previous years, Google has used I/O to show off the latest for its Pixel A-series device. This year should give us the Google Pixel 8a, and we might even get a peek at what’s coming with the next-generation Pixel Fold 2.

The Google Pixel 7a launched last May, so it’s almost a year old now. At the time, while the 7a was mostly solid, the higher price made it a bit of an awkward recommendation, considering its specs and close positioning to the higher-end Pixel 7.

Read more
Are WhatsApp and Facebook down? Here’s what you need to know
WhatsApp logo on a phone held in hand.

If you use WhatsApp, Facebook, or other Meta-owned apps, chances are you had a rough afternoon today. Why? WhatsApp, Facebook, and other apps were down for a couple of hours.

When did the outage start? What apps were affected? Are things finally back to normal? Here's what you need to know.
When did the WhatsApp outage start?
According to DownDetector, reports of WhatsApp being down started flooding in around 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, April 3. Reports spiked at around 2:19, with multiple thousands of people reporting issues with the app.

Read more
Ordering a Galaxy S24? Don’t forget you need a power adapter
Several devices plugged into the Belkin BoostCharge 3-port USB-C wall charger on a bedside table.

Samsung recently started taking pre-orders for its brand new Galaxy S24 phone, and there are some things we already like about it. However, the Galaxy S24 doesn’t come with a charger, so you’ll need to get yourself a power adapter if you’ve put in an order. There are several options out there for new Galaxy S24 owners, and our top pick is the Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger. You can read onward for more on why we like it. Another consideration is the OEM charger that you can purchase directly from Samsung, and you can read onward for more information on it as well.
Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger — $45

The Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger is our top pick for Samsung Galaxy S24 owners in search of a way to charge the device. While the Galaxy S24 is likely to land among the best phones at some point, it falls short when it comes to providing this particular accessory. You’re going to have to spend a few bucks to get a charger when you purchase the Galaxy S24, and the Belkin costs slightly less than Samsung’s native charger. It offers quite a bit more, however, as it has three USB-C ports that allow you to charge multiple devices at a time. The Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger provides 67-watts of power for use with USB-C smartphones, tablets, and even laptops, making it super versatile and something to go along with the other accessories you need for your Samsung Galaxy S24.

Read more