Celebrity Influence on Youth Culture

Teenagers are bound to be influenced by celebrities to some degree, simply because it is impossible to escape celebrity culture. The media is fixated on what celebrities are doing, so that even the most respectable newspapers end up covering celebrity-related stories. Many teenagers want to become celebrities themselves, as they see the celebrity lifestyle as glamorous and sexy. When there are many celebrities who are famous for doing nothing, it isn’t surprising that many teenagers think that if they become a celebrity, they will have an easy life. 

Some teenagers are not prepared to knuckle-down and work hard at school because they become convinced that they can make their fortune by appearing on American Idol or some other ‘talent’ show. Of course, many teenagers will grow out of this phase and realise that they have to actually do something with their lives, rather than continually follow a dream that is unlikely to come true. There are some who won’t face up to this reality, though, and who believe that eventually they will get the fame they deserve.

Body image is an issue for teenagers and here celebrities have some influence, particularly over girls. It is very unusual to see celebrities carrying a bit of extra weight and those who do are often the subject of derision. Whenever a celebrity is photographed by the paparazzi looking less than glamorous, with no make-up, a flabby stomach and visible cellulite, there will no doubt be sarcastic comments made by the ‘journalist’ writing the ‘story’. A few weeks later the same celebrity will be photographed looking ultra-svelte and sophisticated.

Celebrities feel the pressure to stay slim and to make the most of their appearance, which is something that teenage girls and, to a lesser extent, teenage boys feel. The media obsession with celebrity, particularly how celebrities look, may not create eating disorders, but it is certainly influencing how teenagers feel about their own bodies.

Teenagers are comparing themselves to impossibly perfect celebrities who all have their own stylists on hand to help them look good. It is when these celebrities leave the house without their personal entourage that they are snapped looking less than perfect! These aren’t the images that teenagers tend to pay attention to, though, as they have a tendency to look at images of celebrities who always look good, which just makes them feel bad about their own appearance.

There may be some teenagers who eschew celebrity culture, but when celebrities are used to advertise anything and everything and even pop up in news stories, it is very difficult to escape the power of celebrity. It is even tougher for teenagers than adults, as they are often desperate to fit in with their peers who may have a greater interest in celebrity-related matters.

By Michelle Wilkinson                                      http://www.helium.com/items/2069310-how-celebrities-influence-teenagers