http://www.inosr.net/inosr-arts-and-management/ Thakkar and Lortie INOSR ARTS AND MANAGEMENT 6(1): 44-48, 2020. ©INOSR PUBLICATIONS International Network Organization for Scientific Research ISSN: 2705-1668

Effects of Idols in Youths

Thakkar, M. and Lortie, K. L.

Department of Education, Universite Tunis Carthage, Tunisia.

ABSTRACT Puberty is one step toward the gates of manhood. To live this life, they need identity. Sometimes there are teenagers who have difficulty in finding their own identities, but not infrequently there are teenagers who can recognize themselves respectively. In the stage of knowing the identity of these, no doubt they need a model that they consider capable of describing their identity. This model is called the idol. Many teenagers wants to imitate their idol, the teens want to be just like their idol that most notable are great people or that they consider to have an advantage, giving rise to a tendency to idolize. Not infrequently the youth to follow and even emulate their idols. Many teens are influenced by the presence of the idol. Ironically, instead of self-discovery, they are actually trapped in the identity of others. But there are also teenagers who are motivated by their idol. It also depends on the individual teen. How to cope with their excessive admiration which can result in positive effects in their lives. Keywords: Idols, teenagers, celebrities

INTRODUCTION Idol is the figure which highlighted lot of this model of leadership is an idol [3]. An people because of the prime example, if there is a bunch of bands that achievements. A lot of the race becomes managed to attract many young people so an idol, but only a handful that has the that the teens had ―hypnotized‖ by him formula as a true idol that will emerge as within the meaning of the song gave winners. Idols can play an important comfort to teens, the teens then slowly place in adolescent life [1]. The began to identify all the things that exist phenomenon of idolization, the in the band ranging from used clothes up sometimes excessive admiration of or her hairdo [4]. A person who managed to devotion to something or someone is touch the hearts of teenagers, then that especially characteristic of adolescents person will be a teen idol. Factors that and their transition to adulthood. Familiar had touched the hearts of teenagers is the scenes of bedrooms covered with posters ability to understand the youth, a genuine of celebrities, sports heroes, and popular acceptance and support is greatly to his bands, and, increasingly in our computer- personal life. The band or singer that lyric age society, the development of Web sites provide reinforcement or encouragement and blogs devoted to media idols is often for teenagers, then the band or singer characteristic of adolescent behavior [2]. would soon become a teen idol, call Agnes The objects of idolization come from Monica, she is one of the Indonesian various domains of social life including singer who has millions of loyal fans, the sports, mass media, and music; and they reason they like Agnes so diverse, starting can be quite powerful objects of devotion. to like her songs, her fashion style, her An idol gives considerable influence on dances, her achievements, or even her teens, especially if the idol is a leader in attitude [5]. the community (public figures) that is For teens, idol is the figure that is able to able to attract a large number of people in provide inspiration about life that large numbers anyway. According to Erik empowers and emotional touches that can Erikson, during this identity crisis, a provide reinforcement [6]. Inspiration, significant social relationship that affects and emotional touch that strengthen and the adolescent is a model of leadership. In empower is inspiring and emotional touch

44 http://www.inosr.net/inosr-arts-and-management/ Thakkar and Lortie INOSR ARTS AND MANAGEMENT 6(1): 44-48, 2020. that suits the needs of adolescents. As Scouts Research Institute found that mentioned above earlier, a teenager needs nearly half of girls ages 13 to 17 wish is the need to be understood, understood, they were as skinny as the models in and fully supported. The need to fashion magazines [14]. Celebrities play understand and be understood requires a into this trend when they document their touch of emotional support to teenagers extreme diets or use language that can be who do not curb the need inspiration, but triggering for those with eating it gives a genuine insight and direction disorders—such as when the entertainer and empowers [7]. Inspiration that Kim Kardashian recently expressed empower is to give choices to suit the gratitude for being told she ―looks conditions teenager. anorexic‖ [15]. News outlets covered a Despite the apparent pervasiveness of conversation between the Kardashians idolization, researchers have not studied and the backlash it spawned. When this aspect of adolescent development as celebrities minimize the severity of eating much as one would have expected [8]. disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, or Sometimes idolization is viewed as endorse taking unhealthy products to something that is insignificant, a suppress appetite, they are emulating transitional phase to be tolerated or dysfunction. Furthermore, for celebrities ignored. that are as exploited for their physical The Impact of Celebrities on Teen Body bodies as often as the Kardashian family Image is, they are shirking an opportunity to Research shows that teen body image is reframe the narrative around healthy shaped by many factors. These include weight. Hence, teens are told that looking friends and family, where the teen lives, skinny defines your worth [16]. This and their cultural background. However, messaging is superficial, heartbreaking celebrity images have a profound impact for many, and can be deadly for those on teen body image [9]. who suffer with life-threatening eating The Today Show and aol.com collaborated disorders. And it‘s not just teen girls who on the ―Ideal to Real‖ body image survey are affected. Research shows that young [10]. As a result, the survey found that 80 men also experience body dissatisfaction percent of teen girls compare themselves and depression as a result of viewing to images they see of celebrities. media images. And this body Moreover, among those girls, almost half dissatisfaction can lead to unhealthy, said that celebrity images make them feel excessive exercising among male teens. dissatisfied with the way they look [11]. Positive Celebrity Influence on Teen Therefore, appearance is among Body Image teenagers‘ top concerns, teen girls in However, some celebrities influence the particular. In her book Think: Straight body-image discussion for the better. For Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a example, the singer Lorde called out a Dumbed-Down World, author Lisa Bloom Photo shopped image of herself on reveals that 25 percent of young Twitter [17]. She noted that one photo American women would rather win showed her with ―perfect‖ skin while the America‘s Next Top Model than the Nobel other was real. ―Remember, flaws are ok,‖ Peace Prize [12]. she tweeted. Other celebrities, including How Celebrities Influence Teen Eating Rihanna, Beyoncé, Melissa McCarthy, and Disorders Jennifer Lawrence have spoken out Celebrities influences teenagers body against the ideals of beauty promoted by image because body dissatisfaction is the entertainment and fashion industries linked to mental health challenges, [18]. including eating disorders, depression, Substance Use and Celebrity Influence and low self-esteem [13]. Studies find that Celebrities influence teens in other ways young women who consume media with as well. When stars post images of many images of an unrealistic ―thin ideal‖ themselves drinking or smoking on social are more likely to exhibit symptoms of media, they normalize substance use. disordered eating. In addition, the Girl Furthermore, they make it appear

45 http://www.inosr.net/inosr-arts-and-management/ Thakkar and Lortie INOSR ARTS AND MANAGEMENT 6(1): 44-48, 2020. attractive and cool. Moreover, teens often before reportedly entering rehab after an idolize celebrities and want to be like apparent drug overdose earlier this them [19]. Therefore, if they see images summer, Demi Lovato released a song on Instagram of a favorite singer or actor about relapse, titled ―Sober‖ [7]. using drugs or drinking, they might be Consequently, the song inspired young tempted to do so as well. For example, a people nationwide to open up about their University of Pittsburgh School of substance abuse and mental health Medicine study looked at teenagers who challenges. Lovato has struggled for years frequently listen to music that contains with drug abuse, alcoholism, depression, references to marijuana. Subsequently, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders. they found that these teens are more While her recovery continues, her song likely to use the drug than teens with less helped increase understanding around exposure to such lyrics. In addition, for relapse and addiction [8]. For many every hour that American teens listen to people, relapse is part of the recovery music, they hear more than three journey. Furthermore, it provides an references to different brand names of opportunity to address the underlying alcohol [11]. Researchers say that this issues and build better coping strategies. might contribute to teen drinking. In In addition, the singer Ariana Grande has addition, researchers at Dartmouth been frank about her battle with PTSD and Medical School found that movie anxiety following a bombing at a concert characters who smoke cigarettes venue while she was performing [16]. influence teens to try smoking. Therefore, Moreover, the model Bella Hadid has media influence on youth can contribute shared about her social anxiety. And to risk-taking behaviors. England‘s Prince Harry has spoken The Impact of Celebrity Endorsements publicly about the trauma of losing his on Teen Nutrition mother, Princess Diana. Subsequently, he Moreover, celebrities influence how teens and Prince William formed the Heads eat. In one study, researchers examined Together initiative. The project tackles endorsements made by 163 music stigma, raises awareness, and provides celebrities who were popular with teens help for people with mental health [5]. They used Teen Choice Award challenges [2]. These are just a few of the nominations as a way to measure the many celebrities who have shared their celebrities‘ popularity among adolescents. struggles with the world. As a result, And many of these celebrities endorsed celebrities influence the public‘s snack foods and non-alcoholic beverages understanding of these issues. [10]. Subsequently, the researchers found How to Talk to Teens about Celebrity that 71 percent of the beverage Influence endorsements promoted sugar-sweetened Media influence teens because pop drinks. Also, 81 percent of the endorsed culture plays such a big role in teens‘ foods were low in healthy nutrients. In lives, celebrity‘s influence the way teens other words, celebrities are encouraging think and what they talk about [9]. teens to eat food that doesn‘t support Therefore, parents can use celebrities‘ their physical or mental development [4]. experiences as avenues for talking about That‘s because nutrition and teen mental sensitive subjects. Thus, celebrity health are closely linked. Certain anorexia cases offer opportunities to talk nutrients directly contribute to mental to teens about how dangerous the ―thin health. And an increasing body of ideal‖ can be. And they can discuss research reveals the negative impact of healthy ways to stay fit and eat well. sugar on the brain and body. Moreover, stars who speak out about Celebrities Can Raise Awareness and coping with mental illnesses demonstrate Reduce Stigma that people with such diagnoses can be Many celebrities are open about their successful and happy [12]. Parents might struggles with addiction and mental ask teens what they admire about the health [2]. As a result, they help to reduce stars they follow. Some teens are upset stigma and raise awareness. For example, when they find out about a celebrity‘s

46 http://www.inosr.net/inosr-arts-and-management/ Thakkar and Lortie INOSR ARTS AND MANAGEMENT 6(1): 44-48, 2020. struggles. Therefore, parents can offer a overcome mental health conditions. The different viewpoint: Stars who share their deaths this year of designer Kate Spade stories are examples of courage, honesty, and television personality Anthony and authenticity [6]. Moreover, their Bourdain brought renewed attention to vulnerability makes them stronger. And mental illness and suicide [9. Therefore, they often receive tremendous support the message for teens is that people who and love after opening up. In this way, are suffering must seek professional they serve as role models for youth. treatment as soon as possible. However, some celebrities are unable to CONCLUSION, Celebrities are really people. Thus, they youths want to emulate? Perhaps experience real struggles. But because creativity, passion, or dedication? What they are in the public eye, teens have the can they learn from the lives of celebrities opportunity to learn from them. And who have struggled with depression, parents can help them sort through the anxiety, eating disorders, or substance information and take away a healthy use? This alone when deeply considered message. They can as well ask them some will yield a positive result by leading the questions like, what qualities do they youth to make a rightful choice. REFERENCES 1. Akuoko, K. O. (2008). Traditional economy‘, International Journal of values, socio-cultural factors and Indian Culture and Business human resource management Management, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp.152– practices in public sector 161. organisations in Ghana‘, Journal of 8. Goldberg, M. E., Gorn, G. J., Science & Technology (Ghana), Vol. Peracchio, L. A. and Bomossy, G. 28, No. 3, pp.58–69. (2003) ‗Materialism among youth‘, 2. Ashford, J. B., LeCroy, C. W. and Journal of Consumer Psychology, Lortie, K. L. (2006). Human Vol. 13, No. 3, pp.278–288. Behaviour in the Social 9. Hyman, M. R. and Sierra, J. J. Environment, 3rd ed., Wadsworth, (2010). Idolizing sport celebrities: Belmont, CA. a gateway to psychopathology?, 3. Blumer, H. (1993) Movies and Young Consumers, Vol. 11 No. 3, Conduct, Macmillan, New York. pp. 226-2 4. Fairburn, C. G., Welch, S. L., Doll, 10. Jowett, G. (2016) Film: The H. A., Davies, B. A and O‘Connor, Democratic Art, Little Brown, M. E. (2015). Risk factors for Boston. Bulimia Nervosa: a community- 11. Kumar, S. and Lata, P. (2019) based case control study, Archives ‗Understanding the impact of of General Psychiatry, Vol. 54, No. advertising on children and 6, pp.509–517. redefining the laws of living in 5. Florea, R. and Florea, R. (2011) India‘, Sharma, S., Sharma, J.P. and ‗Socio-cultural environment Singh, R. (Eds.): Pester Power Effect influence on the pharmaceutical of Advertising on Children, pp.21– market development‘, Economy 30, Centurion Institute of Transdisciplinarity Cognition, Vol. Professional Studies, Jaipur. 14, No. 1, pp.468–475. 12. Moses, E. (2010). The $100 Billion 6. Friedman, H. H. and Friedman, L. Dollar Allowance: Accessing the (1979) ‗Endorser effectiveness by Global Teen Market, John Wiley product type‘, Journal of and Sons, Inc., New York. Advertising Research, Vol. 19, No. 13. Ohanian, R. (2016). Construction 5, pp.63–71. and validation of a scale to 7. Gaur, S. S. (2012) ‗Ohanian‘s measure celebrity endorsers‘ celebrity endorsers‘ credibility perceived expertise, scale: evaluation and validation in trustworthiness, and the context of an emerging attractiveness‘, Journal of

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