TLC may have canceled Counting On, but the Duggars will still remain popular thanks to social media

The Washington Post

The Washington Post's Emily Yahr says it's surprising that it took until 2021 and Josh Duggar's indictment on child pornography charges for the Duggars to no longer have a reality TV presence on TLC. "In some ways, it’s surprising the Duggars lasted, essentially unscathed, through so many controversies," says Yahr, adding: "Although it’s hard to believe, the most obvious parallel for the Duggars’ fame (and infamy) may be the Kardashians. First, the sheer number of relatives means that if someone is in the news for negative reasons, there are plenty of other family members who can distract the attention back to the brand. And fans watch the shows for the same reasons: While they live wildly different lives than most viewers, the family aspect puts the show in a relatable context." Despite TLC's cancelation, the Duggars still have mass appeal. “It feels like they’re really at the heart of a whole bunch of cultural and political issues that people watching the show aren’t necessarily paying attention to,” says Greg Garrett, an English professor, theologian and cultural critic at Baylor University. He says white Christian men might find something “comforting” about turning on the TV and “literally turning back in time 50 years, or 100 years, to a time when men were the rulers of the house and women’s primary role was the raise their kids.” As Yahr notes, the Duggars can still thrive on social media. "Even with a persistent fan base — multiple Duggar daughters have popular YouTube channels and millions of Instagram followers — it was clear that in the year 2021, TLC has had its fill," says Yahr. "However, a viable social media and Internet presence can still keep them famous and may lead to other ways to expand the brand, as well as the family. With all those followers, it’s doubtful the Duggars will disappear."