Public Figures Should Be Role Models

Many people look up to celebrities as role models and imitate their styles, interests, and attitudes. Admirers believe that celebrities’ success gives other people permission to act in the same way, even when these decisions and actions are frivolous or dangerous. A large amount of celebrities are good role models but there are still exceptions.

To David Cox, writer of “Celebrity Culture Is Natural and Can be Beneficial,” the culture can help “...teenagers become more independent from their parents and makes them more popular” (Cox 4). People sometimes even look up to them as being perfect for having the ‘good lifestyle.’ In Kirsty Fairclough 's "Celebrity, Youth Culture and The Question of Role Models," she said that teenagers are likely to “connect with [celebrities] that they feel best represent them as well as those that do not” (Fairclough). And they also can get teenagers interested in politics.

Some people, like King, portrays people to be obsessed with celebrities. In Palmer’s short essay response he states, “We teenagers are passionate - maybe even obsessed - about our favorite stars, but that doesn’t make it a big problem, and it doesn’t mean we want to copy their bad behaviors” (14). I think this quote makes it clear that, Palmer believes teenagers are not influenced by celebrities negatively. For example, the results of a survey taken by several 7th graders shows that, 0.9% percent of students are inspired to do something bad because a celebrity. Students, kids

Athletes, singers, actors – what do all these people have in common? They’re idols; people who are loved, looked up to, and copied because they’re so good at what they do. They’re the examples every child patterns themselves after. But are they a good influence? Consider an athlete like Ray Rice, who plays well on the field, but beats his wife when the cameras aren’t looking. Or, an actor like Johnny Depp, who skillfully makes a story come to life on the screen, but slips into a drug-addict lifestyle like it’s a sweater. These are the people who will define our future – not who the new generation is, but who they look up to. If the wrong people are chosen to pattern ourselves after, it turns into chaos. For example, look at the Slender Man

In the article, “ The Impact Celebrities Have On Our Lives,” Deborah King explores the issue of celebrities impacting our lives, both negatively and positively. To begin with, she mentions that, today, we are overly obsessed with celebrities, whether they are positive or not. The author demonstrates that negative celebrities

The role of fame and celebrities’ heavily influence American culture. Some people may be eager for a celebrity status or be drawn to one who has achieved it for reasons not fully understood. When the word “fame” is thought of, often what comes to mind is the money and the attention that comes with it. However, fame can also bring pain through addiction and the publics lack of acknowledgement that celebrities are people who share the same struggles and stress. America’s obsession with “celebrity culture” effects the attitudes, behaviors, and the overall views of an average person, and also those of the celebrity themselves.

In today's society one of the things that we hold dearest to our hearts are celebrities. We watch them on our favorite tv shows, we listen to them sing, and we watch them walk on the runway. But are they good role models towards teens? No celebrities are not good role models to kids of all ages. Celebrities can cause teen drinking, they can cause teens to have a lower self esteem of themselves, and the create a sense of disillusionment.

Many parents teach children to look up to athletes as role models but do not know anything other than their profession. Children see athletes as gods, because of the fact that they make lots of money, and are famous. Thousands of children have been affected by their example, they are either encouraged to do better, or discouraged because they have so much room to improve. Some people like to use athletes as role models while others don’t. Athletes should not be used as role models because, people only love the athletes who win, spoiled athlete syndrome can result in bad behaviors, and most children only see the records, fame and money but do not see their habits and side activities.

Celebrities expose teenagers to partying lifestyles, profanity and inequity towards each other, using each other as if they were objects, sex, drugs, discrimination and more. Let's take Lindsay Lohan for example. A star since age six, Lohan was America’s favorite child, until she turned to drugs and alcohol. She’s now famous to the younger audience for her alcohol and drug abuse, demonstrating a harmful, reckless lifestyle to teenagers. Teaching them to have fun, do what you want, and don’t be scared of regulations and consequences. Another example, according to Deborah King, is Mel Gibson’s problems with alcohol which encourages us to take it as well, thinking it’s no harm. Another, celebrity who has a bad influence on us, is Miley Cyrus. Not so long ago, she was just a sweet little girl who was playing Hannah Montana on Disney Channel. But, now she’s appearing naked in her music videos, smoking marijuana on stage, spitting on her audience, etc. All of this has became not only her normal behavior, but also her fans’ too. Although, sometimes celebrities serve as good role models, the bad ones impact us more.

Since ancient times, people have always admired celebrities, putting them above themselves as if they were gods. In her article, The Impact Celebrities Have on Our Lives, Deborah King feels that our “obsession” with celebrities is unhealthy. However, I agree with Collin Palmer’s short essay response, where he states that

Celebrities are bad role models Do celebrities make bad role models? I believe they do. Kids see celebrities in the news everyday and mimic what they do, thinking that they should be like them. But that is wrong. Most celebrities don’t know what they are doing in their life because they have a hard time telling reality from fantasy. They are like you and me, but people think that they are more than that. Most magazines and movies have pictures/videos of airbrushed celebrities and when teenager look at these they start believing that looking like how celebrities do is the only way to be popular and loved.

Role models in the media are also essential for young people. These are idols, actors, athletes, authors, politicians, revolutionaries or any other person who is known because of their fame. Media role models have a high influence over young people because they are often placed on a pedestal, and worshipped like gods. It is important for youth to be wary of negative media role models because they may glamorize truly wrong values. An example of this is seen if we look at Paris Hilton. She lives a fascinating and alluring lifestyle, yet was convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol. Because of her, many other young girls may believe that drinking and driving is okay, or even cool. Role models in the media are important because of the widespread effect they have on youth all over the world.

Have you ever wondered what influences us to behave the way we do? Look a certain way? Or even looked for an explanation to what causes us to apply a certain perspective regarding personal and controversial issues? One of the answers to these questions may revolve around the influence we absorb from celebrities. A definitive term for celebrity is an iconic figure to a category or group who has achieved success in one or multiple aspects of their lives. As a result, these individuals have drawn in publicity and fame. Over the years with the advances in media and other forms of communication, celebrities have become topics of discussion worldwide, rather if it’s at school, with colleagues or at the dinner table, it is fair to say that

People see them everywhere; on the television, on magazines, and on the internet; celebrities. Since they are in the media so much, they are constantly influencing society, especially younger audiences. These celebrities are not positive role models for today’s youth. They are not positive role models because they make people

The first effect of celebrities is the way they change tweens and teens’ s mind about an ideal image. Celebrities who always appear in front of many people with beautiful appearances and perfect bodies. Everyone usually want to have a perfect body like a “S-size” or “Coca - cola bottle”. And the famous people become their ideal models.