Concertgoers unlocked a new concert pet peeve: the excessive usage of camera flash when recording oneself while artists are performing on stage.
According to fans, there is no problem with recording yourself, as long as you respect the shared space among other fans. The online debate on concert etiquette and pet peeves began when TikTok influencer Jen Barangan, uploaded a recording of her singing along to one of Olivia Rodrigo’s songs with her phone camera flash on.
In a now-deleted TikTok video, Jen recorded herself with the camera flash on, while fans behind her were also taping the performance.
Where the Public Stands
The influencer was called out by netizens over her behavior during Olivia Rodrigo’s concert last Saturday. However, it seems that Jen was not the only one who recorded herself with her phone camera flash on.
Some netizens came to her defense, stating that other people did the same thing during the concert, but people only called out and critiqued Jen. According to the others, Jen was singled out because of her status as a content creator.
In defense of other concertgoers, they mentioned how fans can freely record themselves without using flash, as courtesy to the audience. There is a tendency for others to be blinded by the camera flash and be distracted from their concert experience.
Fans wanted others to understand the importance of being considerate of others, especially when in a public space, like a concert venue.
“Recording is great, but please avoid using flash as it can be distracting to other fans during the concert,” the Facebook post by We Are Millennials wrote.
Jen’s Public Apology
On Tuesday, Jen issued a brief public apology, addressing the public’s outrage at her post. The one-liner sentence was uploaded across her social media accounts.
“To everyone, I’m so sorry for my actions,” she wrote
View this post on Instagram
However, netizens were unconvinced by the influencer’s apology as it appeared ‘insincere’ and petty.
“Not a fan nor a basher but didn’t expect you to be this petty. You could have kept quiet before releasing a very insincere apology. People’s reactions are valid, you could have acknowledged it and promised to be more considerate next time,” one comment read.
Despite the bashing, some comments lauded Jen for taking accountability for her actions, stating how she learned quickly from the incident. Comments on the incident not being an issue also surfaced, as others saw it as a way to get on the ‘hate train’ with Jen.
The excessive use of camera flash in theaters, concert venues, and other dimly lit spaces is strictly prohibited, as it can be distracting to both performers and concertgoers.
