Can you Keep up?

Mom Kris Jenner (bottom middle) and her five daughters are the focal point of the reality television show, "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." Together, they form a blended family that has captured global attention. Their following is almost entirely based off of their online fame through social media. With an unsightly IMDb rating of only 2.8/10, yet a viewer base of an average of 2 million per episode since 2014, it certainly is a conundrum as to why they have so much fame and fortune, yet almost no one knew who they were or why they're worshipped today.

The short version of the story is that Kris Jenner first gained fame after being married to the defense attorney and close friend of OJ Simpson, Robert Kardashian. In 1978 they split up and in 2003 Robert passed away. With 4 children from her previous marriage, Kris married U.S. Olympian Bruce Jenner in 1991 and had two more children. The first episode of their reality television show aired on October 3, 2007.

It is unclear what led to the family's fame aside from the connection to OJ Simpson, yet today there are countless followers of the reality T.V. show who just can't get enough of the Kardashian family.

Perhaps it is the range of characters in the show that captures the attention of its audience. The two youngest daughters Kendall and Kylie Jenner have just begun to scratch the surface of their future careers, yet mom Kourtney Kardashian represents the life of a busy yet successful parent who somehow has it all together. Each woman represents something to their predominately female audience. Kris Jenner is the older mother figure to her girls, yet maintains her youth and spunk as if she is living through her daughters. Khloe Kardashian serves as an emblem for the "average" woman in her late 20's-30's dealing with heartbreak, relationship drama, and struggling to find her place in the world.

Meanwhile, Kim Kardashian stands for the ultimate comeback from an infamous sex tape scandal. Bouncing back with even more fame, recognition, and power with her husband Kanye West (a rap artist/ icon), Kim channels everyone's soft spot in going through the worst but still coming out on top. It's no wonder so many people are fanatics of the show and in turn soak up every bit of social media attention they receive from the Kardashian family.

Kylie Jenner has undoubtedly assumed the role of media guru on Instagram and Snapchat alone. With over 15 million followers on Instagram, Kylie's audience keeps track of her every move - and she knows it. She posts content every day on Instagram and entices her viewers on Snapchat with live videos from her daily life. Her family's fame has contributed to her online following, leading to the development of her app and lip products after an infamous lip scandal. Rather than hiding her private decisions from the world, she has embraced her enhanced lips and made even more money and fame off of them. Arguably the most popular app of all the sisters, Kylie Jenner has a knowledgeable guide behind her every move. As a recently-turned 18-year old living in her own mansion with multiple priceless cars, it's clear that any young lady would want her life.

But what exactly do people gain by following these ladies aside from an intense yearning to replace them for a day?

The attachment viewers feel to all or perhaps just one of these women is certainly a factor, but it goes deeper than the celebrity icons who rule the realm of social media. Providing an escape from our daily lives, a unique portrayal of exactly who we want people to see, and entertainment that is constantly updated with new content, there's simply no turning back from our addiction to social media. For those who aren't keeping up, there is also a steady trail of media left behind on the internet that can prove very difficult to erase. All things considered, keeping up might just be the only way to stay on top.