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The Teen Idol Phenomenon
By TransitionGirl | August 15, 2008
I’ve been observing the phenomenon of these teenage or children “stars” who are wildly popular and have a huge following of kid fans. And I’m a bit worried.
Take Miley Cyrus for example. (Just an example, and not limited to just her.) She’s insanely popular even though her acting is sub-par and she yells more than she sings. What she is, is an icon, someone kids look up to, even though she hasn’t done anything really great. I’m worried because these kids are following every single action and move she makes, modeling themselves after her.
Kids are dressing like her, and the way she dresses sometimes leaves me wonder if she knows the word Modesty. Kids are acting and talking like her. She’s 15! And yet she’s dissing out advice like she’s been through life and have the knowledge and wisdom to give it. Her fans listen to her like she’s a guru, forgetting that she’s just a kid like them and she’s still got a lot of learning and growing to do.
While the teen idol thing is not new (I was sure I was gonna marry one of the Backstreet Boys when I was a teen), it’s getting younger and younger. Kids at SIX are getting drawn into this obsession. Is this healthy? Is this wise? I’m not saying we would forbid kids from being their fans. What I’m saying is we have to teach children not to follow blindly, that just because the “star” is doing it, doesn’t mean it’s right. (I think this is a lesson some adults also need to learn.) At the end of the day, they are humans too, making mistakes and learning. Just because they are celebrities doesn’t mean they know it all or have all the answers (brings to mind the Celebrity-Religion Phenomenon).
Let’s not forget the “idol” her/himself. With millions of people swooning over them, it’s gotta be a huge ego boost. So huge in fact, that most of the time, they become arrogant, so sure of themselves, thinking they are invincible. That’s where the problem starts. How many times have we seen teenage and child stars make a mess of their lives? Even if they manage to stay off the drugs, the alcohol, they become dependent on all these praises, successes. What happens when they meet criticisms, and failures in their life? Most often than not, we see them collapse and fall into depression.
At the end of the day, everyone - from the kids, to the adults to even the stars - need to realise that the only one we should and can follow completely is the One who Created us, and nobody, no matter how cool or talented, can ever replace that.
Just Saying,
TransitionGirl
*P.S.: I don’t hate Miley Cyrus. I don’t know her. I don’t, however, think she’s all that great as an actress and singer, especially when there’s other really talented actresses and singers out there like Charlize Theron and Celine Dion.
Topics: Strange Happenings, Thoughts |