What Would Aretha Franklin Say About Respect in the Age of Social Media?

Respect is not a trend that changes with the algorithm, honey. When I sang 'Respect,' I was talking about something fundamental—the basic dignity that every human being deserves simply because they exist. Social media has made people think respect is something you earn through likes and followers, but that's backwards. You earn respect by giving it first. You earn it by showing up as your authentic self, not some carefully curated version designed to please strangers. The platform doesn't matter. What matters is integrity. I see young people today performing their lives instead of living them, and I say: stop performing. Sing your truth. Speak your truth. That requires courage, and courage cannot be faked for a camera. What troubles me is that respect has become conditional—people think they only deserve kindness if they're popular, if they're pretty enough, if they're successful by someone else's measure. But I was taught in my father's church that every soul has worth. That worth doesn't go up or down based on engagement metrics. It's fixed. It's divine. When you interact with another person online, you're still interacting with a child of God. Act accordingly. Don't say things you wouldn't say face to face. Don't diminish someone's humanity because there's a screen between you. The medium is new, but human decency is timeless. If we lost respect—real respect, the kind that looks another person in the eye—then we've lost something crucial. I fought for women to demand respect in their relationships, in their workplaces, in society. That fight continues. It's just happening on new platforms now. But the principle remains sacred. Respect yourself enough to be real. Respect others enough to listen. That's how you build something that lasts.