Reggae Sumfest to recognise social media’s best

A month before Reggae Sumfest, the team will partner with public relations specialist Tara Playfair-Scott to host the inaugural Get Social Awards.

Nominees for the award were announced via Sumfest's Instagram page on Monday night.

More than 100 social-media influencers, including Jamaicans based overseas, were shortlisted across 35 categories.

Playfair-Scott told The WEEKEND STAR that with social-media impact strengthening every day, it is important that those using the space to advance themselves and their country be recognised.

"The world is evolving ... . The way things were even two years ago is not the same as the way they are today. With the click of a button, a life can change for good or bad, and we have to recognise that our people, both locally and internationally, are making a big impact in these spaces," she said.

She added that the nominees all have an active presence on social media, including the children shortlisted in the Child Star category.

That category includes the offspring of some of Jamaica's most popular celebrities, such as Lauren 'LC' Campbell (daughter of Agent Sasco and Nicole McLaren Campbell), Israel (daughter of Yendi Phillipps and Chino McGregor), and Avani (daughter of Asafa Powell and Amita Persaud Webb).

"I don't have kids of my own, but I have about 700 godkids and nieces and nephews, and these kids are on social media doing stuff, and they're sharing with other children. Kids are watching them, taking from them, and learning from them as much as they are taking and learning from adult social-media influencers. So why not have a category to recognise them?" she said.