"What they're doing" and Essay

 For my final project, I have decided to explain how the reality show Dance Moms uses social media. Dance Moms is in it's third season and it is a smash hit. Dance Moms is a non-scripted series that follows a group of moms and their daughters from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The girls are semiprofessional dancers that travel around the united states to compete in dance competitions. The moms are very opinionated and the dance instructor, Abby Miller, is a no-nonsense type person. This is a dramatic show that will keep you hooked.
 America is intrigued by Dance Moms and because of the interest, Social media has become necessary outlet for the stars. In this website it is apparent that there is a massive audience that wants to stay in contact with the Dance Moms stars. The "Flock and Unlock" strategy has resulted in, "sustained fan participation through not only an engaging activity, but also through a real-time Tweet stream on the Dance Moms webpage." Each member of the cast has had to create their own social media outlet in order to stay in contact with their fans. In this article the number of social media outlets per star is impressive. They have truly made their fans a priority.
 Because of the sheer quantity of viewers involved in each of the stars' social media sites, some of the moms have partaken in sponsorship opportunities. In this article Christi explains her involvement in social media sponsorship. The moms also promote their private business endeavors on their social media site. With the good that social media brings, it can also bring the bad. In this article Christi is openly accused of "pimping out" her daughter. Once an opinion is published, it cannot be taken back. This article will remain on the internet and it will continue to haunt Christi.
 Social Media has proven to be both a positive and negative presence in the lives of the Dance Moms cast. Weather you use a cite to reach your fans or to tear someone down, social media can be very effective. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogs, YouTube and Pinterest are all used by the stars. Social media will continue to boost ratings. It will also contribute in the longevity of the show. Dance Moms will continue to be a sensation as long as its cast reaches out to the public through their social media outlets.