This generation is one where we are surrounded by a celebrity culture, where analysing every last inch of pop stars' lives is the norm. They are all over our television screens, in magazines, blogs and films. We see their partying, drug taking, yo-yoing weight battles, short lived relationships, cheating, prostitutes, and in many cases now, breakdowns and prison sentences. And in a generation where celebrity gossip reigns, it begs the question how will it affect the younger and more influential generations?
If the youth of today consider pop stars as role models, then they will be influenced to be unhealthily thin and go on outrageous diets, often leading to anorexia. They will teach them take drugs and drink alcohol while constantly partying.
It isn't just the bad life choices that celebrities need to be wary of. As role models, they influence our kids in every aspect of their lives, including what they choose to wear. Young people see their role model sporting the latest designer trainers or brand name clothing, and are often at an age where they don't fully understand how much things cost, and why their parents can't afford to spend that much on things for them.
It isn't as if the celebrities start out being bad role models. When their career starts out and their popularity is on the rise they are fresh faced and saying 'don't do drugs' or singing about love and friendship and other lovely things. But then when their career peaks, and someone else comes on the scene with a fresh face and attitude, and the limelight shifts, the media and record labels start to put pressure on the celebrity to get back to where they were, and steal back the limelight at any cost. And that pressure has led to famous breakdowns and even prison sentences.
And it can sometimes be all too easy to blame a celebrity role model for our own children's poor decisions in life. It is often used as a scapegoat to skirt around the reality, which is that all problems start at home. We bring our kids up, not the celebrities, and we shouldn't be so quick to blame a complete stranger who has happened to make a mistake in their own life, for the mistakes made in our children's lives.
If the youth of today consider pop stars as role models, then they will be influenced to be unhealthily thin and go on outrageous diets, often leading to anorexia. They will teach them take drugs and drink alcohol while constantly partying.
It isn't just the bad life choices that celebrities need to be wary of. As role models, they influence our kids in every aspect of their lives, including what they choose to wear. Young people see their role model sporting the latest designer trainers or brand name clothing, and are often at an age where they don't fully understand how much things cost, and why their parents can't afford to spend that much on things for them.
It isn't as if the celebrities start out being bad role models. When their career starts out and their popularity is on the rise they are fresh faced and saying 'don't do drugs' or singing about love and friendship and other lovely things. But then when their career peaks, and someone else comes on the scene with a fresh face and attitude, and the limelight shifts, the media and record labels start to put pressure on the celebrity to get back to where they were, and steal back the limelight at any cost. And that pressure has led to famous breakdowns and even prison sentences.
And it can sometimes be all too easy to blame a celebrity role model for our own children's poor decisions in life. It is often used as a scapegoat to skirt around the reality, which is that all problems start at home. We bring our kids up, not the celebrities, and we shouldn't be so quick to blame a complete stranger who has happened to make a mistake in their own life, for the mistakes made in our children's lives.
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