In this article, I want to talk about the impact of celebrity craze on Indian youth.
I understand that we find some connections with celebrities when we see them act in certain roles.
We love their looks, their kind of fashion, the way they walk or show attitudes. We love the way they talk or say things.
We may feel fascinated by their physical beauty.
At the tender age of youth, hormones play games in their bodies. When they see their favorite actors on the screen, they laugh, cry, become sad, or get angry like their idols.
This is why many celebrities flourish. They are everywhere on social media platforms.
These celebrities have huge followings and they keep the youth engaged with their attractive looks and luxurious lifestyles.
Indian youth just love those amazing routine posts of their favorite celebrities.
They feel bewitched!
In other words, they worship their favorite people and donāt think twice before giving them significant time and attention.
Indian youth are āThe True FANā!
The Dark Side of Celebrity Craze
I wonāt deny that I have been admiring many celebrities since my childhood.
But, Iām not obsessed with them.
I donāt want to know every detail of their lives. I donāt follow their every move.
Neither do any members of my family.
If I get a chance to see them personally, I know I won’t jump with joy, shout, or die to take their autographs or go crazy for a moment to shake hands with them.
The more I have understood about celebrities, stars, their marketing tactics, their social media games, and their ethics, the less I admire them.
However, if you see Indian youth on social media or hear them talking, they are just obsessed with celebrities. Like, anywhere else around the world.
But todayās youth are unaware of the dark side behind their obsessions that can seriously mess with their lives. Hereās how:
1. The Delusion of āUnrealistic Comparisonsā
Todayās youth compare their lives to the seemingly perfect lives of celebrities.
Whatever celebrities show or post, Indian youth believe in it. They hardly question if it is real or not.
The delusion is that celebrities and influencers wear a glossy facade.
What the delusional youth see is a polished and well-crafted image.
And celebrities and influencers work hard to maintain that image in front of the world. They donāt work alone. They have their teams of stylists, PR people, and media managers.
Further, celebrities and influencers only show the perfect airbrushed photos and picture-worthy moments.
Many times they are just FAKE or show moments that are STAGED.
Indian youth are obsessed with the looks and beautiful faces of celebrities. They are delusional that many beautiful faces or bodies are not real.
No, they are not.
Almost, all of these celebrities go through botox, fillers, silicons, or plastic surgeries to maintain that look or appearance.
The more they age, the more they go through such procedures.
Further, celebrities show only happy and highlighted parts of their lives. They just donāt tell the struggles, sad parts, or other messes of their lives.
Moreover, many celebrities set negative trends like unhealthy diets or risky behaviors among young people, especially girls.
But the delusional Indian youth are either unaware or donāt want to see their favorite celebritiesā facades or their intentions.
The youth just want to copy their style, facial expressions, poses, clothes, and attitude.
They crave to follow a lifestyle like their icons.
So when Indian youth compare their everyday reality against the polished images and lifestyle of celebrities, they feel dissatisfied.
They feel inadequate.
2. Getting Caught in Financial Burdens
Indian youth are delusional that their favorite celebrities use the same products that they show in advertisements.
No, they donāt. Celebrities donāt use those products. They just show them. They pretend to use them.
Companies pay celebrities premiums to endorse their products.
And then these companies charge a premium from you on those endorsed products.
Delusional Indian youth try to look like celebrities and want to have similar gadgets, clothes, or products that they possess. This can lead to youth stretching their financial limits. They can engage in unnecessary spending and get trapped in financial burdens.
A report by the Indian Retailers Association states that there is a significant increase in sales of celebrity-endorsed products. Customers donāt show as much interest in cheaper alternatives as they show in costlier products that celebrities endorse.
This trend shows how youth are delusional about the higher costs, and they are paying for their celebrity craze.
3. Neglect of Personal Life
Todayās youth are unaware that their obsession with celebrities can take a toll on their personal lives.
What is more important? Personal growth, career goals, and meaningful relationships or following celebrities news and social media updates?
The Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) conducted a survey. It is found that 70% of urban youth spend more than four hours daily on social media.
What does this survey suggest? That, Indian youth are delusional about the core responsibilities of life.
They often neglect productive activities and personal development.
Instead of exercising and looking good, youth waste time on social media admiring celebritiesā bodies.
Instead of focusing on their career and learning new skills, youth waste time on appreciating career graph celebrities.
Instead of learning about money, youth waste time praising celebritiesā expensive cars and luxurious lifestyles.
4. Taking Mental and Phyisical Health Issues Lightly
Social media platforms are filled with the perfect lives of celebritiesāthe flawless and polished images of their looks and the luxury they have.
And, Indian youth routinely compare their lives with their favorite celebritiesā glamorous lives.
So due to this comparison, they have feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem.
There are countless social media posts of celebrities showing their perfect bodies.
Indian youth are quite vulnerable to such posts. In order to have similar bodies they can start following extreme diets or doing excessive exercise.
Recently, a research published in the Journal of Youth and Adolescence. It says that teens who expose themselves to idealized images of celebrities are dissatisfied with their bodies. They are going through eating disorders.
Without knowing the full picture of what celebrities are doing to maintain their body and appearances, delusional Indian youth start following any advice they find online or on social media.
They need to understand that the pressure to look a certain way can be overwhelming and damaging for them mentally and physically.
5. Suffering from Identity Crisis
Celebrities have created their own identity and they have worked their whole life for it.
But do Indian youth understand this nuance?
Indian youth must understand that they are not getting any value by imitating their favorite celebrities.
A subtle influence is fine but it should not overpower their identities.
Many Indian youth lose their identities by walking, talking, and following the appearances of celebrities.
Mimicking and imitating celebrities is a delusion.
If Indian youth keep focusing on celebrities, they may start neglecting their personal goals and sticking to their own identities. They may suffer from insecurity and confusion in life.
Indian youth must understand that they will lead a happy life only by pursuing their interests and passions.
They canāt emulate the success and lifestyle of celebrities just by looking and behaving like them.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Celebrities are not FLAWLESS people. They have flaws too.
They are also like us and are good at doing certain things that amuse us more.
If you want to love, then love and appreciate the great work of celebrities, not celebrities themselves.
Maintain a healthy distance and donāt obsess over them.
Be mindful of your social media consumption. If you really want to follow celebrities, follow those who spread positivity and promote realistic lifestyles.
Focus on what matters in your lifeāyour career, your meaningful relationships, your health, and your happiness.
Spend your time and resources on activities that boost your self-esteem, uplift your moods, and grow you personally.
To read more about delusional Indian youth, go to:
Rajesh Sharma is a freelance IT Consultant who has found his new passion in digital writing. On this blog, he writes about Social Experience (SX) and shares tips on improving them. View more posts
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