Ashley Kalagian Blunt’s new audiobook, Like Follow Die, explores the complicated and dangerous relationship teens have with social media. The author recently shared insights with ABC News, emphasizing her desire to contribute to the ongoing conversation surrounding the influence of social media on young people.
Claudia Karvan, famous Australian actress and producer, makes an astounding performance as Corinne in the full-cast recording of this eye-opening audiobook. Karvan writes with painful authenticity as Sarah, a mother doing her best to love and protect her son Ben from the world. Here is Gavin, a mild-mannered boy who aspires to Olympic Gold in swimming. As Ben grows up, his experiences parallel the greater societal woes, including the dangers young boys are faced with today.
The Challenge of Raising Sons in Today’s World
As a new mother, share with parenting today’s Karvan, who has an adult daughter and a teenage son, connects to the cultural challenges of being a parent. She doesn’t deny the challenges boys and young men are up against and she doesn’t disagree with Caitlin Moran’s argument, made in her book “What About Men.” Moran asks her feminist compatriots to make sure that in the debate between the status of men and women, boys do not get forgotten.
“I have to stay open-minded, and I think we all have to make sure that specifically young boys are given the time to be heard and not judged and not feared,” Karvan stated. Her character’s journey in “Like Follow Die” mirrors her own reflections on raising sons in a time when societal expectations can be overwhelming.
Through Ben’s journals, Karvan dives into Ben’s world view. Her focus is on capturing the growth of his character from 12 to 19 years old. This nuanced portrayal prompts audience members, particularly adults, to step back and reflect on the larger perils of being a young person in our tech-centric world.
Social Media’s Impact on Teenage Boys
Kalagian Blunt notes the urgent imperative to meet teens where they are—countering the messages they are receiving on platforms such as YouTube, Instagram and TikTok. She explains how these spaces can be easily manipulated by groups trying to prey on these often troubled young boys.
“The main thing I want to do with Like, Follow, Die is show how in the men’s rights activist space, there are groups that are specifically targeting teenage boys,” Blunt explained. Through her research, she seeks to understand why some young men are drawn to these ideologies. Her artistic practice examines what makes the West so alluring and irresistible.
Karvan focused on one key fight playing out right in front of us. The struggle between the establishment world order and a new era of progressive change represents an incredible opportunity to re-write the rules for our country. The audiobook provides an opportunity for honest conversation about these urgent topics.
The Broader Conversation on Gender and Society
Both Karvan and Blunt work hard to have a big tent discussion on expanding masculinity in modern culture. Blunt articulates her concern for the portrayal of men in media, stating, “I do think we need to create a space to talk about men in a positive way.”
Terry Karvan has an emotional stake in addressing the crises boys face. Simultaneously, she pushes for boys to get equal focus as girls in feminist conversations. Their collaboration – artistically and thematically constantly, however delicately – on “Like Follow Die” illustrates the imperative of examining these themes thoughtfully and sensitively.
