How Shane Jordan Is Making the World Better Using Social Media
Jordan is an accomplished musician, actor, writer, and activist who has been a part of the entertainment industry for over 20 years.
Presented by Luke Lintz
It goes without saying that social media is one of the most powerful channels for communication in the world, as it allows people to reach anyone in an instant. DataReportal’s global overview of social media released in January 2022 reveals “there are 4.62 billion social media users around the world,” and “the world will spend more than 12.5 trillion hours online in 2022 alone.” This means that at any given moment, about half the world is probably connected together, communicating and sharing their thoughts and opinions.
Shane Jordan explains that the true power of social media is not just in its ability to connect people but rapidly share influence. “People have always been social and connected with each other. Communication and interaction are as old as humanity itself,” says Jordan. “But these new tools hold great power, as now one person can easily reach and influence millions and even billions of other people. And even though everyone knows that with great power comes great responsibility, still, not all people take this responsibility very seriously.”
Jordan is an accomplished musician, actor, writer, and activist who has been a part of the entertainment industry for over 20 years. He experienced firsthand how power and influence can be easily abused. Jordan points out that looking and being a certain way in any industry back then wasn’t something people welcomed with open arms. And people in power loved to abuse that.
“I ran from home because I had a very religious and judgmental family, and I had to remove myself from such an environment,” says Jordan. “I thought that with all the shine and glamour, the entertainment industry would be my sanctuary. I was young and gay, and I didn’t stand a chance. I was constantly pushed behind the scenes, away from the spotlight.”
But then, one moment turned Jordan’s life around and inspired him to continue in his pursuit of happiness. It was when Governor Ann Richards hit the scene in Texas. A young Jordan instantly fell in love with her vocality and boldness and that’s when he vowed if he ever comes into a position of power, he will use his influence only for good.
“I always felt a self-awareness in myself to do good things, to be a good person. But when Governor Ann Richards hit the scene in Texas, I found myself enamored by her gutsiness and heart for underserved communities. When she would publicly fight for women’s rights and LGBTQ+ people, I felt like I had a chance in a world that may not look at me in those times.”
With this newfound inspiration, Jordan started doing everything in his power to make his dreams come true. Fast forward to today, Jordan became a best-selling author in 2020 thanks to writing the national best-selling humor book Wear the Damn Mask from Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster, which debuted at number two on Nielsen BookScan. An Instagram account he opened on behalf of the world’s most famous French bulldog, Izzy The Frenchie, was featured in People’s “21 Adorable Instagrams” in 2017 and won the Webby People’s Voice Award for the social/animal category in 2021.
Izzy The Frenchie became an internet sensation when the video of her bathing went viral and hit over a billion views in one night. The account currently has over a million followers on Instagram, and with that, Jordan got a platform where he can fight to make the world a better place. And he stayed true to his vow, as he regularly uses Izzy’s account to spread social positivity and speaks on social issues that matter and can help both people and animals.
While his accomplishments are more than enough to say that he achieved success, Jordan says that he won’t consider himself successful until he hears a story that he was the reason why some person decided to change the world and managed to achieve that, just as Ann Richards inspired him.
“I always wanted to make the world a better place, and that’s why I like to speak up on social issues that matter and can help people. That’s why we are always pushing for social positivity regardless if it’s women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, or any other issue,” says Jordan.
“We also donate a part of the revenue [from Izzy’s Instagram account] to animal shelters and projects that are about animal welfare. I believe that the world definitely needs ambassadors that will influence people’s views on these problems and use their power to spark a change that will transform this world into a place where everybody will be accepted and respected.”
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