Celebrities easily influence teenagers who look up to individuals in the spotlight, seeing them as role models to emulate. At times, this can be a good thing. Some celebrities display positive traits that can inspire and motivate young people. At other times celebrities who behave badly by offending people and engaging in illegal activities, affect teenagers in a more negative way, resulting in poor behaviors being copied. Celebrities who present an image of themselves that is not easily obtainable or realistic can leave teens with a poor body image and low self-esteem.

Positive outcome

Celebrities that influence teens in a positive manner tend to be respectful of other people, working hard to reach their full potential. When teens can see their favorite celebrity moving up the career ladder due to hard work and enthusiasm, they are drawn to do the same. How celebrities are depicted in the media reflects how they are viewed by society.

The effect of media and celebrity coverage

Teens who read magazines and newspapers aimed at an audience who are barely educated can come away with a poor impression about what it takes to get to the top. Celebrities in such publications are only shown flaunting physical assets, shopping, wandering along red carpets or living the high life. The effort it took to get there is not considered.

Celebrities and teen peer groups

Perhaps the teens most likely to be influenced by celebrities are those who move amongst a social group of a similar age, or who come from a similar background to people in the spotlight they hope to be like. Now that it has become popular for celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez and Cheryl Cole to be proud of their humble beginnings, it gives hope to teens who don’t have the advantages offered by wealth.

Celebrities and body image

Celebrities are under pressure to look perfect, and unfortunately, the perfection they project is not always obtainable as it is falsely produced. Careful airbrushing techniques of celebrity images ensures blemishes, disfigurements and body lumps and bumps are never seen. At the same time many celebrities, and particularly females, strive to be especially thin. They know that television produces the illusion that they are bigger than they are, so they diet more than is healthy or sensible. Teenagers who attempt to copy them can end up feeling like they compare badly, or struggling to attain a small body that is unnaturally thin.

Celebrity behavior

Celebrities who behave badly, taking drugs, getting drunk in public or being abusive, serve as negative role models for teens, who may think it is cool to do the same. Because they get so much attention when they do stupid things, it gives young people the wrong impression about life. Seeing celebrities are rewarded for negative actions cannot be good for teenagers.

Celebrities have the ability to influence teenagers in a good or bad way. It may be said to be their responsibility to provide young fans with positive role models, after-all, it’s often teens who send a lot of money their way. Whether teens are influenced in a manner that is useful or not depends upon circumstances, and the integrity of the celebrity in question.

References

dailymail.co.uk

abcnews.go.com

commonsensemedia.org

child.net