The Effect of Famous People on Society: A Double-Edged Sword
Celebrities are great shapers of modern society in different ways: they can mold cultural norms and social values, and even implant psychology in their followers. By the meaning of living, the words they speak, or even their behavior, such people can inspire, motivate, and then sometimes, on a sad note, lead the public astray. Below is an analysis of the huge effect famous people can have on society, the good and bad influence they pose, and how they can affect the collective psychology of their audience.
Celebrities are usually seen as role models and inspire millions to dream big, face their challenges, and change the world. A positive role model can have a great influence on societal behavior and individual aspirations.
Take Oprah Winfrey, for example; her impact does not emanate from her media achievements. How rags-to-billionaire media mogul Oprah's story goes has been an inspiration to hundreds of thousands of people across the world. She has been candid about personal battles, from sexual abuse experiences to reaching self-acceptance, and in the process, helped take away the silence and shame in many of these highly personal issues while motivating other sufferers toward recovery. Additionally, her philanthropic efforts in favor of the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa have made a difference that can be seen, demonstrating the effect celebrities can have if they do something good with their power.
Another actress who has used her clout to promote gender equality is Emma Watson. She is the Goodwill Ambassador for United Nations Women and founded the He For She campaign, asking men and boys to become agents of change in the globally shared struggle for gender equality. Perhaps no less important in these respects has been the impact of increased attention and mobilized global activism spurred by such celebrity involvement.
Another way celebrities can influence the citizens is by raising awareness of significant issues rather than just being role models. For instance, Leonardo DiCaprio has been a strong voice in advocating for the protection of the environment and raising the public on issues of climate change. He had, through his foundation and public speeches, brought forward the alarm to the affairs of saving the environment, hence influencing many people to act towards environment conservation in their lives. He continues to demonstrate the potential for celebrities to influence positive change in society by utilizing their celebrity status to address certain important global issues.
The Negative Side of Celebrities to Society
The side of celebrities that has a negative impact is also an influential component of being a celebrity. At times, celebrity culture gives way to the glorification of unhealthy lifestyles with superficial values and raises unrealistic expectations.
One of the most crucial social issues today is the impact a celebrity's lifestyle has on body image and self-esteem, especially among youth. Repeated exposure to perpetually idealized celebrities through up-to-the-minute social media and the press can result in distorted images of beauty and success. A celebrity who endorses either crash dieting, cosmetic surgery, or materialism constantly adds to the unhealthy practices and a sense of inadequacy among his or her followers. This can further pressure into issues like eating disorders, depression, and anxiety.
For example, the Kardashians-Jenner family is one such household that has been under immense ridicule for living such a hyper-materialistic life by emphasizing appearance and possession of luxury and wealth. Their engagement in social media and posting of over-excessively edited pictures endorse cosmetic products and surgeries. This has been cited as one of the reasons behind more people embracing "selfie culture" and the younger generation turning to surgery. It looks as though they are the contributors to societal problems by endogamously advocating for undesirable or superficial ideals.
Moreover, celebrities' actions sometimes damage the population's behavior and attitude. Illegal or unethical actions done by famous people in one way or another provide a message that their behaviors are acceptable or even desirable. For instance, the substance abuse glorified by part of the entertainment business is linked to growing drug use among young individuals. People who are in scandalous events that involve drugs, violence, or any other kind of illegality can go a long way in inadvertently popularizing these acts, a cycle that may trickle down to the common man and further devastate the societal backbone.
The Psychological Impact of Celebrity Influence
The effect of celebrities on society does not stop at behavior and attitudes; it goes further to affect the psychological well-being of a person. The phenomenon of "celebrity worship" may have substantial psychological impacts on particularly younger people, who are still forming identities.
Celebrity worship involves the very fanaticism and near obsession over one's favorite celebrity. Often, this sort of obsession translates to the classical fangirl behavior, yet at some points, it may go to the extent of involving obsessive thinking or stalking. While most people practice celebrity culture in a balanced way, it can end up leading to serious psychological issues such as anxiety, depression, or identity confusion for some people.
Social media has augmented celebrity culture, therefore enabling many people to reach means of reference and feel inadequate. The continued flow of controlled feeds from celebrities tends to render some sense of pressure in trying to be like them or perhaps have such a life, creating dissatisfaction and feelings of low self-worth. Extreme behaviors based on celebrity culture, especially on social media, are interlinked with mental health-related problems like anxiety and depression in empirical literature as well.
It is also important to realize that the mediatization of celebrities may determine partly the perception that society will have regarding mental health problems. If people with certain fame were to talk constantly about the problems related to their mental health, this is capable of reducing stigma in due course, and hence people tend to look for professional help. But if the media glamorizes or trivializes these problems, it reinforces harmful stereotypes and keeps people from seeking the support they need.
Conclusion
The impact of celebrities is deep and far-reaching. At the same time, they may be a force for social change or inspiration; they also may contribute to harmful behaviors and unrealistic ideals. Concerns are rising regarding the effects of celebrity culture on psychology, which include the new dispensation facilitated through social media and its implications on self-esteem, body image, and mental health.
As society continues to be faced with the influence of the celebrity
figure, there is a need for a critical eye toward celebrity culture. Understanding
the potential for good and harm will help guide individual choices on how to
interact with culture and the messages to be continued in their hearts. In the
long run, the responsibility lies with celebrities themselves, along with their
audiences, to promote only the most secure positive and realistic values that
greatly help contribute to society's well-being on the whole.