Most high school students watch content on social media, but Summit junior Ellie Barker creates her own. After starting her account during the pandemic, Barker developed a passion for it, enjoying the community she’s gotten from growing her TikTok platform.
Barker’s success is likely a result of her consistent content schedule, which involves uploading over ten posts per day. Her typical videos consist of outfit checks and relatable content. Her large following makes it clear that people, specifically young teen girls, seem to connect with her posts, as her comment sections are typically flooded with statements like “omg me too” and “literally.”
However, with the delayed TikTok ban arriving, Barker’s online presence could decrease, as her most popular account, with one million followers, is on TikTok.
Originally Barker wasn’t interested in signing with a talent agency. However once she realized that the TikTok ban could “take most of it [her followers], if not all of it away” she decided to sign with Grail Talent, a talent agency for “pioneering creators that are shaping the future of entertainment,” which helped Barker begin to transition from TikTok to Instagram.
In spite of the potential ban, Barker has continued to post on her account, while also growing her Instagram profile. Over the past two weeks she has gained 10,000 followers on Instagram. She posts around four to five videos per day, uploading photos of the PR packages she receives from brands like Edikted and Mario Badescu on her story.
Barker is confident in her work and doesn’t let Summit’s or social media’s judgment-prone culture get the best of her. She’s able to create content, while also being herself.
“It’s the ability to put herself out there,” said Summit junior Cooper Bollom while describing Barker’s self-confidence “Summit is a place where people worry about what everyone thinks of them, and for Ellie to go online and do her thing [is super admirable].”
While many students wouldn’t typically associate academics with being an influencer, Barker can accomplish both. She’s able to balance the growth of her social media account while also being studious.
“She’s respectful, hardworking, and driven academically,” said Doug McDonald, one of Summit’s U.S. History and World Religions teachers.
Barker’s love for academics is clear, as she created her account with the intention to save money for college. “Being educated is very important to me, especially with politics,” she said.
However, Barker’s presence extends past social media and academics; she also has a valuable role at Summit. After quitting basketball last year, Barker wanted a way to contribute to the school while also staying close to her past teammates. She accomplished this by becoming the Summit Varsity Girls Basketball team manager, a crucial role in which she is responsible for what goes on behind the scenes and makes games and practice possible.
As Barker continues to grow her online profile, she shows that balancing school and a social media career is possible with the right mindset. Though the future of TikTok is uncertain, her ability to adapt to new platforms, both on and offline, shows she’s prepared for whatever comes next.
