Children’s ability to imitate the actions of others is a very powerful form of learning because it prompts parental interaction and helps children to learn about the social environment. In today’s media-focused world, however, children rather look up to or even become obsessed with celebrities rather than their parents. Although, there is nothing wrong with idolising singers, movie stars or sports figures, it is important that children do not develop an obsessive attachment to celebrities by using them as their only role models.

A Celebrity-driven Media World

TV series and social media have created a celebrity-driven environment in which children start to fixate on famous athletes or music stars from an early age. Children are attracted to series and commercials that present a life that seems to be much more colourful and interesting than their own. Unsurprisingly, youngsters mimic and absorb the images on the screen interpreting them as reality. For instance, if a child’s favourite singer advertises an accessory or clothes, children will value their opinion much more than that of a parent or relative and see the product as a necessity in order to bound with their idol. It may become difficult to change their mind about the particular product and trying persistently may even just lead to the child to dig deeper into wanting the item.

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Negative Influences

Changing children’s opinions about celebrities becomes even more difficult when children already have an obsessive fixation on their idol and see them as their primary role model. This is a particular problem when celebrities are engaging in poor behaviour in public. Some actors who play roles in teen TV show may dress inappropriately in their free time or on the red carpet contributing to a wrong body image or outward appearance for youngsters. Picking up an unhealthy diet from a celebrity who is seen in public eating fast food all the time is another example of bad celebrity influence and there are many more disrespectful and even dangerous behaviours children can pick up from them.

Positive Influences

However, not all celebrities have a negative impact on the world of their youngest fans. There are many celebrities who use their publicity to support charities, increase awareness of diseases or make donations. There are also many sport figures who give an inside into their difficult journeys and share their personal sacrifices to achieve success in sport. These stars can be very good role models to children and are an inspiration. They can have a positive influence on children in order to do well in school, give back to the community by volunteering or donating toys and may be an inspiration to achieve more in life than participating in a reality show or earn a fortune. As with all celebrities and particularly with the youngest ones, it’s worth keeping an eye on their activities to be up to date on their public engagements and to hear about any changes in their social behaviour as soon as possible.

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Finding Good Role Models

It is important to understand what kind of impact celebrities have on children’s life in order to help them not to copy poor behaviour just because someone famous they like engages in such behavior. Children may not understand that their favourite actor is only playing a role in a TV series and has an entirely different personality when he or she is off-camera. Therefore, parents need to help children to realise that their idol only portrays a character in a series and engage in a conversation with them to help them determining what makes a good role model. There is nothing wrong enjoying a singer’s music or an actor’s series even if they are involved in bad behaviour outside their career but it is crucial to discuss the consequences of their bad choices that lead to fines or bad publicity. When talking to children about their favourite celebrities, conversations can be steered into the direction to understand why they like a particular celebrity much more than another. This way, parents can gain an inside into the values of their children. These conversations are also an opportunity to introduce children to much cooler role models who have attributes that are admirable. It could be a celebrity who donates to a charity or raises poverty awareness. Older children may also be interested in famous role models who have accomplished a lot at their young age such as Malala Yousafzai who is a global leader for female education and received the Nobel Peace Prize. Regardless to whom a child looks up to, it is important to make sure that they understand to value their own uniqueness and talents, and pursue a life they like rather than following someone else’s.

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From television to newspapers, radio, and new technologies, the media is a predominant force in children’s lives today. New technologies are increasingly popular and access to all kind of information is easier than ever. There is also more and more convincing evidence that media messages and images have harmful effects on children. One point particularly analyzed is celebrity culture vehicle through the media and the effect on body image.

Unrealistic and unhealthy media portrayals of female sexuality can lead young girls to feel insecure about their own bodies.

Body image usually refers to how someone thinks about his or her physical appearance and the person feels about it. Body image is closely linked with self-esteem and having a negative body image can affect children’s lives.

However, it is not celebrity influence that may be negative but the way the media frames it and presents it as an ideal that must be achieved. While celebrity obsession is not something new, the increasing popularity of reality TV shows and social media among the younger generation turns them into an easily influenced target.

Celebrities are followed on Twitter and Instagram by millions of followers. They self-document their lives, which is in turn romanticized by the media and idealized by the youngest generation. Young girls are deluged by images of skinny models and young boys are exposed to unrealistic ideals of body shapes.

Body image and sexuality

The American Psychological Association estimated that teens are exposed to about 14, 000 references to sex each year in movies and other media. Most of these references fail to mention birth control, risk of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and other sexual-health related facts.

Music videos contain more sex per minute than any competing genre in the industry. TV shows and movies make it seem normal for teenagers to have sex and thus it gives them a misrepresented conception of reality. Unrealistic and unhealthy portrayals of female sexuality can lead young girls to feel insecure about their own bodies. It could provoke fears in them of being unattractive and lead them to extreme dieting.

Nevertheless, celebrity influence on kids’ body image is not always negative and on many occasions it can empower them. Celebrities can promote healthy eating habits and exercise. Michelle Obama is a great positive example of how to use fame to try to change and improve children’s daily lives. In 2010, the First Lady started the “Let’s Move Program,” to reduce child obesity so that children exercise more and feel good about themselves.

Finally, it’s mainly the role of parents to educate their children and protect them from the negative media influence by talking to them and creating a safe environment in which they can express freely concerns about their bodies.

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