A blogger is campaigning for lessons in the ethical way to use social media to be taught in schools, and opened up about dealing with ‘cruel’ comments on Loose Women this afternoon.
Nikki Lilly, 15, from London, is a YouTube star who creates music and make-up videos, and boasts over one million subscribers and an impressive list of achievements; including interviewing both Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn, as well as winning the Bafta Special Award 2019, celebrating outstanding contribution to media.
The vlogger, who was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation when she was six affecting her facial tissues, appeared on Loose Women today, where she argued that children should be taught to use social media in a ‘positive way’, because it’s ‘such a big part of life’.
She said that while she does receive an outpouring of positivity online, Nikki still has to deal with nasty online trolls, but tries to ‘turn hate comments on their head’ and think about the person posting the remark.
Beauty blogger Nikki Lilly, 15, (pictured) from London, appeared on Loose Women today where she claimed the ‘right and wrong way’ of using social media should be taught in schools
The blogger, who was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation when she was six, creates music and make-up videos online, with over one million subscribers
She said: ‘I think we should teach kids how to use their platform in a positive way, it’s such a big part of life. It’s only right we show kids there is a right way and wrong way to use social media.’
Nikki explained that while at first the comments on her videos were disabled, she eventually switched them off, and although she doesn’t get too many nasty comments – she does receive trolling online.
She added: ‘I do get cruel comments, I get hate comments, they do still get to me. But if you turn that on its head, it’s a lot more about the hater then it is you.’
Nikki started making videos when her medical condition left her unable to leave the house and socialise with friends, and says she ‘lost touch with the outside world’.
Last year, Nikki became the youngest ever recipient of a Children’s BAFTA Special Award. She is pictured with Loose Women’s Stacey Solomon at the British Academy Children’s Awards, Arrivals in London
The blogger admitted that while social media can be detrimental, it’s helped her to find a sense of ‘community’ and feels teaching how to use it correctly could be a ‘great thing’.
‘I think there are a lot of cons with mental health with social media’, said Nikki, ‘But I think if taught to use it correctly, it can be a really great thing’.
‘It’s really helped me to have a community and an insight into the outside world when I wasn’t able to. Social media can be used to find your tribe.’
Nikki’s visible condition means normal tissues become painful or fragile and grow progressively larger over time, and she admitted that her diagnosis made her lose ‘all of her confidence’.
She also shares make-up tutorials with her followers. She is pictured showing how to achieve a ‘glowing look’
Nikki often shares videos of herself covering songs. Pictured, Nikki singing a cover of The Beatles ‘Here Comes The Sun’
She spoke with former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2018, who later thanked for her ‘suburb’ quiche
‘When I was diagnosed, I was such a chatty child and I lot all of my confidence, but when I started making videos – it made me so happy.’
‘I think I just realised that I could use this little platform that was growing slowly, to make a difference to just one person.’
Last year, Nikki became the youngest ever recipient of a Children’s BAFTA Special Award, following in the footsteps of Jacqueline Wilson and The Chuckle brothers as a recipient of the special award.
During her interview with Theresa May in 2018, the vlogger quizzed the then prime minister on whether she’d rather go on Strictly or Bake Off, and presented the politician with a homemade quiche.
Later, May delivered a personal message to Nikki where she hailed her ‘inspirational’ following their exchange thanked her for her ‘superb’ baked goods.
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