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Not only do media outlets portray celebrities to young people, but electronics play a part as well; music being the key factor. Music that a celebrity creates also influences a teen’s behavior. If one were to listen to an artist whose music is full of profanity and vulgar language, more than likely that teen will follow what that artist is promoting. For example, a lot of young girls today look up to the musician Nicki Minaj; some even think of her as the hip hop version of Lady Gaga, another well known teen idol. If the teens that look up to her as a role model were to hear one of her songs full of sexually explicit lyrics, then that young girl would think that its okay to do those acts because she wants to be just like her. Artists use music as a portal to reach out to their fans, but what they fail to realize is that some of those fans take their lyrics to the heart. In some of their music, they even talk about how they prefer their women or men to be a certain skin complexion, wear certain labels, or even be a certain size. Just by hearing these preferences, some teens may feel as if they aren’t good enough so they may attempt to change themselves to feel as if they meet their favorite celebrities’ standards. One study reports that at age thirteen, 53% of American girls are "unhappy with their bodies." This
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One of the main reasons is because they feel as if celebrities understand them better than anyone else, especially their parents. Teens normally like to have a role model they can turn to for how to dress, look and act. They think that if were as thin as some of them, then that particular outfit would look great on them. What they actually fail to realize, is that some of those celebrities go to extreme measures as far as starving themselves to look that way. The National Eating Disorder Association keeps statistics on the dieting habits of young women. Data shows 42 percent of sixth through ninth grade girls say that they want to be thinner, and 81 percent of the 13-year old girls are afraid of being fat. More than half of 13 and 14-year old girls said they feel better about themselves if they were on a diet (Miller 1). That statistic in itself should be a red flag to all celebrities, young and old. The image that they are sending to America’s youngest generation is both unhealthy and safe. Celebrities themselves must take the initiative to educate young women about ridiculous dieting. Coming from someone who is idolized by the younger generation will have a greater impact on teens that are struggling with body
One of the main reasons is because they feel as if celebrities understand them better than anyone else, especially their parents. Teens normally like to have a role model they can turn to for how to dress, look and act. They think that if were as thin as some of them, then that particular outfit would look great on them. What they actually fail to realize, is that some of those celebrities go to extreme measures as far as starving themselves to look that way. The National Eating Disorder Association keeps statistics on the dieting habits of young women. Data shows 42 percent of sixth through ninth grade girls say that they want to be thinner, and 81 percent of the 13-year old girls are afraid of being fat. More than half of 13 and 14-year old girls said they feel better about themselves if they were on a diet (Miller 1). That statistic in itself should be a red flag to all celebrities, young and old. The image that they are sending to America’s youngest generation is both unhealthy and safe. Celebrities themselves must take the initiative to educate young women about ridiculous dieting. Coming from someone who is idolized by the younger generation will have a greater impact on teens that are struggling with body