Second years will definitely know, and first years who have been using the blog might also know that the final unit before all the revision mush is component 2c: online media. One of the media 'products' we will be exploring is Zoella, who has recently rebranded herself as Zoe Suggs. Suggs's carefully cultivated online media presence hit it's peak around 2013, which makes it pretty strange that the exam board decided to set her (they ended up abandoning Pewdiepie as a set text after it turned out he was a bit of a Nazi, so that's good).
However, Suggs is still doing stuff, and has recently released a new book which, if this totally serious and not at all condecending Vice article is to be believed, is a provocative work of transcendental insights on par with Camus's The Stranger or Kafka's The Trial.
All jokes aside, it's easy to make fun of such a self- conscious online 'brand'. But we have to remember that her target audience is year nine girls (five years ago) and she represents a particularly cogent utilisation of the vlog format. Please also remember that often the very worst media products make the very best case studies. I have deliberately taught Made In Chelsea, The Only Way Is Essex and The Jeremy Kyle Show because I firmly believe that media studies isn't just about what you love, but also what you love to hate. These negotiated readings will allow you to explore ideological perspectives far more effectively in the exam.
Also, maybe you're a fan of Zoella. And fair play to you! Hopefully there will be some interesting debates in class that ultimately will translate to EXAM GOLD.