Influence of Celebrities and Social Media on Modern Culture: The Impact on Teens and Society

Author: Sadie Arasim

I recently read an article from Newport Academy titled “Celebrities’ Influence on Teens: The
Good and the Bad,” which explores the impact of pop culture on mental health. The article highlights
how modern American cultural views, particularly those of Generation Z, revolve heavily around social
media platforms and the influencers who dominate them. The platforms mentioned include Instagram,
TikTok, Snapchat, and even music. The article provides an insightful analysis of how celebrities can both positively and negatively influence the opinions of their viewers and followers. It cites numerous
examples from pop culture where influencers have spoken about body image, teen eating disorders, body positivity, substance use, and mental health awareness. The key takeaway is how profoundly celebrities can shape societal norms and behaviors using their fame and fortune, though not all of it is positive.

I found this article particularly compelling because I closely relate to the demographic it describes
as most influenced by the media. As a 20-year-old woman who is active on multiple social media
platforms, I often find myself influenced in various ways. I would be lying if I said I haven’t bought the
latest Nike shoes because I saw my favorite TikToker wearing them or purchased a Lululemon backpack
because it was trendy. I made these purchases to align with what society deems acceptable. While these decisions weren’t harmful, not everything on social media is so benign. Social media fosters unrealistic beauty standards that can easily influence young men and women to feel pressured to conform. This is a prime example of how celebrities can negatively impact society, promoting unattainable goals using Photoshop, extreme diets, and excessive workouts.

Another book I recently read, Consumer Behavior: Buying, Having, and Being by Solomon,
explores similar concepts through an academic lens. Solomon explains that an individual’s susceptibility
to societal influence is closely tied to their personality. He defines personality as a person’s unique
psychological makeup and how it consistently influences their response to the environment (Solomon
221). This insight helps readers better understand the concept of consumer behavior. For instance, the
Newport Academy article states that an astounding 76% of women are affected by celebrity influence on teen body image, which can lead to eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem (Newport Academy 1). From a business perspective, this can be linked to Freudian theory, which suggests that much of a person’s adult personality stems from a conflict between the desire to satisfy physical needs and the necessity to function as a responsible member of society (Solomon 221). While humans need to nourish themselves to be productive members of society, these desires often conflict with societal pressures to maintain a thin figure. The article offers an example of Kim Kardashian expressing gratitude to a reporter who told her she looked anorexic. This remark inadvertently supports the very eating disorders that many struggle with and misses the opportunity to promote the idea that everybody is beautiful (Newport Academy 2).

These concepts can be encapsulated in one word: culture. Solomon succinctly defines culture as a
society’s personality, encompassing values, ethics, and the material objects and services a society
produces (Solomon 493). Over time, American culture has changed significantly—from the hyper-
sexualized hipster era of the early 2000s to today’s Body Positivity Movement. The article describes this movement as a positive shift toward embracing all body types, regardless of size, shape, skin tone,
gender, or physical ability (Newport Academy 3). Without support from prominent celebrities like
Zendaya, the movement wouldn’t have reached such a wide audience. When respected figures advocate and market these ideas to the public, they spark notable cultural movements.

Another aspect I found interesting in the article is how music and celebrities normalize drinking
and smoking for young adults. Teenagers, easily influenced by their favorite content creators, see them
using drugs and perceive it as “cool,” leading them to experiment themselves (Newport Academy 2). Rap music often glamorizes partying, drinking, and drug use in its lyrics. Celebrities and music are two
powerful cultural influences that people engage with daily, whether watching a favorite reality TV show
or driving while listening to Kanye. Music, however, can also be a positive cultural force, bringing people
together and helping form group identities, which may culminate in shared rituals, like attending concerts. Solomon defines a ritual as a set of multiple, symbolic behaviors that occur in a fixed sequence and are repeated periodically (Solomon 501). Ultimately, culture has a beautiful way of uniting society, whether through body positivity or a rock and roll concert!

Works Cited
SOLOMON, M. R. (2012). Consumer behavior: Buying, having and being Michael R. Solomon. Pearson
Prentice Hall. 

Staff, N. A. (2024, May 20). How celebrities influence teens and why it matters.
https://www.newportacademy.com/resources/empowering-teens/celebrities-influence/