In the previous week, who did we find causing a stir on the tranquil streets of Enniskillen? None other than the internet’s reigning unbearable youngster. Ever since the appearance of John Wayne in ‘The Quiet Man’, Americans have had a irresistible urge to upset our calm and lush Irish haven.
The latest entity making waves on our shores is a young man known as IShowSpeed, an embodiment of America’s peculiar effort to not only create an exasperating youth, but to also catapult him to popularity; a form of psychological onslaught, it seems. The fact that our youngsters look up to this 19-year-old lout make one feel inclined to discard their mobiles.
Famed as ‘Speed’, the chap has an astounding following of 27.5 million on YouTube. His current live stream agenda is to increase his followers by an additional 85,000. (Although subscription is free of charge, enthusiasts can shell out extra to obtain “loyalty perks” which are a testament to their standing amongst peers). You’ll never be compelled to watch it, as I have taken the dive on your behalf. The epitome of public-service journalism.
During the live feed, he often switches from one individual to another, pretending to be involved before becoming disinterested and drifting away. Yet, he halts for fan snaps, most of them being youngsters below 18 years of age. (Whenever lost for words, he has a peculiar habit of applausing and hollering aloud. Patrick Kielty might consider adopting this to regain the youthful audience of The Late Late Show.)
Despite the aforementioned, Speed managed to cram a lot into his Irish odyssey, from creating a pizza to trying his luck at Gaelic football. His only evident knack seems to be for making a spectacle of himself. All things considered, around 3.6 million viewers decided it was entertaining enough to watch. One lad he came across labelled him “IShowMeat”, hinting at an odd incident where Speed unintentionally exposed himself on a live stream.
Speed, who has gained notoriety amidst the online community, epitomises unruly behaviour. Known for his trademark fury and various outrageous acts like igniting a firework in his bedroom or hurling seemingly racist slurs on live broadcasts, his reputation took a major hit when he was banned from Twitch in 2021. The circumstances surrounding his banning pointed towards a perceived sexual assault threat towards model and influencer Ash Kash, should they be the last two people on the planet. This aggressive action led to even his staunch followers questioning his character.
Unfortunately, this kind of behaviour is quite typical in pockets of the internet where negativity seems to prevail. The merit is often associated with the shock value rather than constructive content, and Speed is at the frontline of it all. He can be compared to an obnoxious adolescent who is merely tolerated by many in the hope that he will outgrow his childish behaviour. Instead of attaining maturity, however, he peddles his childishness for monetary gain.
The disturbing trend doesn’t stop at Speed. Despite the backlash against the controversial influencer Andrew Tate, who was charged with human trafficking and rape (charges he firmly refuses), the internet remains a breeding ground for countless other influencers promoting a continuous undercurrent of sexism. While parents may find comfort in the thought of Ireland as a beacon of progressiveness, their kids are likely adopting the ‘banter’ expressed by their favourite online personalities.
Among the likes of Speed are the Sidemen; a band of content creators stuck perpetually in their schoolboy antics. This British group gained attention for their video Abandoned in Ireland which, although of higher production quality than Speed’s broadcasts, retains a similar juvenility in its tone.
The Sidemen’s leader, KSI, has become well-known among young internet users for his humorous content, boxing exploits, and his role in Prime alongside Logan Paul. The duo has proven quite successful at exploiting pre-adolescent expenditure. For those not in the know, Prime has been amusingly described as being akin to a My Little Pony beverage.
In the footage, six crew members are subject to being blindfolded, partnered and let loose at what appears to be various irregular locales in Ireland. They’re armed only with a map, a small amount of cash, but no mobile devices. The ultimate objective is to be the first one to make it to Dublin, giving the film an air of a chaotic stag do.
They’re deserted near a bridge from The Quiet Man, close to a place known as Galway; by the Hook Lighthouse, situated in County Wexford; and near Clare Glens waterfall, located on the fringes of Limerick city.
One of them remarks that Galway is among Ireland’s sizable towns, while another proclaims the southern region as desolate. One might excuse such misconceptions – much like one might not know much about the Midlands in England devoid of the film Hot Fuzz – but these inaccuracies are misleading representations of Ireland when left uncorrected. The influence of those individuals cannot be underestimated.
A member of the team unpacks a survival kit, which includes a whistle that prompts a jest about their potential need for it. This type of humour may not be seen as suitable for mainstream television, but amassing 11 million views online raises questions on the amount of adoration they’ve acquired.
KSI is constantly accompanied by Steve, a towering bodyguard, who consistently and gently prevents overzealous fans from touching KSI too excessively.
Through a mix of public transportation, walking cross-country, and hitching rides off locals taken aback by their situation, they successfully reach Dublin. Upon disembarking from a bus in the city, KSI is welcomed by some trendy youngsters on bikes who propose selling him ‘the best crack in Dublin’, escaping the kind of scenes typically broadcast in Irish tourism advertisements.
KSI pauses at Doyles pub, next to Trinity College, for a Guinness and a crisp sandwich, proceeding to film a clichéd TikTok. The repetitive, sarcastic discussions about leprechaun’s gold pots and the ridicule of traditional music, becomes predictable.
Subsequently, two of them stroll around the vicinity of the Guinness Storehouse, persuading passersby to teach them the ‘Riverdance’, which results in someone reminding them that they might ‘likely run into a junkie’. Despite this, the brewery remains a favourite tourist hotspot in Ireland.
In a playful display of juvenile rowdiness, the Sidemen provide the experience of having an older sibling, minus the intricate issues of an actual relationship. Our failure to enforce safety mechanisms on the internet, which to be fair is a delicate balance, has left our youngsters with these buffoons as their idols.
Speed and KSI along with their troupe belong to a crème de la crème of stardom that our society has silently embraced. Not through the medium of print media or office chatter, but via the handheld devices we escape to after a gruelling day. It’s enough to make one yearn for the calm tranquility of ‘The Quiet Man.’