Communication researchers at the University of Missouri have come across some profound findings in their research study: "Making monsters: Lady Gaga, fan identification, and social media."
In interviewing 45 self-identified "Little Monsters" (Gaga followers), the assistant professor of communication in the MU College of Arts & Science, Melissa Click, was able to report the following results:
"In our study of Lady Gaga followers, we found that she uses social media not for promotion but rather as a communication tool with her fans. She shares personal and 'insider' information through social media and develops feelings of intimacy with her followers. By revealing her embrace of her own differences and unusual behaviors she allows her followers to embrace their own differences."
Some study subjects who are gay, have eating disorders, or are bullied reported that the strength Gaga promotes in accepting one's differences has given them a reason to live.
One specific way Gaga fosters this is in encouraging her 40 million twitter fans to be good to one another, despite whatever differences they have. They then create support communities on their own, which become a safe haven and source of continued inspiration for self-acceptance.
The research, which was also conducted by graduate students Hyunji Lee and Holly Willson Holladay, has been published in a social science journal that is peer-reviewed, Popular Music and Society.
