In the world today, children are left with nothing but celebrities to serve as role models.
Kids and young adults often see celebrities as good examples for how a person should live and be successful, but children are often misled and disappointed when the celebrities prove not to be all they seem to be.
When the first episodes of the Disney Channel hit “Hannah Montana” aired on TV, millions of young girls fell in love. Miley Cyrus quickly became a figure that many young girls fawned over. She had it all− she was rich, thin, talented, beautiful, quirky, and most of all, popular. Her life became an example for many young girls despite her character’s unrealistic lifestyle, and her popularity created a tidal wave of girls who wanted to be just like her.
In a more current development, Miley is now known for her provocative music videos, progressive songs and explicit behavior in public. While, according to Rolling Stone, Miley just wants “to be taken seriously as an artist,” her actions have caused a shift in her fans’ perspectives. Instead of the innocent, moderately well-behaved southern girl with a good attitude, the former Hannah Montana is now a misbehaving rock star and a misunderstood artist. As to be expected, her transformation has had an influence on her fans. Many young girls now see the sexual, half-naked singer as a person they should strive to become, causing them to make misguided decisions. Some of these girls now feel they have to be sexy, rebellious and misunderstood to be liked by other people instead of just feeling free to be themselves.
This concept is widespread. Both girls and boys look to celebrities who once may have been a parent’s ideal example, but have since become controversial headliners.
The popular culture in the United States today focuses too greatly on the desire to be wanted. Both children and adults are overly concerned with how they look to other people, or how they are accepted; rather, people should look for positive figures who will guide them on the right path instead of a celebrity or other icon of pop culture who could mislead them.