In today’s hyper-connected world, information is readily accessible at any time, ultimately changing our culture and influencing social behavior. But with this hyper-connected world comes a growing phenomenon where people, especially Generation Z, form a deep interest in the lives of celebrities. While some simply dissect the outfits one wears to award shows, others tend to form an intense fixation with celebrities, following their every move. But to what extent is this healthy, and how does it impact our society?
For one, the most clear reason for this fixation is social media. Social media has transformed how fans and celebrities connect, sometimes creating an illusion of true connection. Of course, having the ability to be connected with celebrities in the first place is a privilege and provides entertainment to many lives. But it is important to note that liking, commentating, and sharing aren’t the same as real connection. Understandably, fans like to keep up with their favorite figures, but sometimes a parasocial relationship can form. Dr. Borland, a clinical psychologist, defines parasocial relationships as “one-sided relationships or bonds with people you don’t know.” Younger generations, particularly Generation Z, fall into these parasocial relationships thinking that liking and commenting on celebrities’ posts fosters mutual recognition, even though the interaction is unreciprocated.
These relationships can be attributed to a plethora of reasons, one of which being escapism. Keeping up with celebrity culture provides a sense of escaping one’s seemingly mundane life, where fans enjoy viewing celebrities’ glamorous lives. Watching an actor go to red carpets, participate in the Met Gala, and show their daily lives can be a form of harmless entertainment; still, they can sometimes display a sense of desiring an unattainable and overly luxurious life. The constant exposure to celebrity lifestyles can lead to continuous comparisons, where admiration has the potential to brew into envy. The thin line between these two can be blurry, causing many people to unknowingly step over it.
Some argue that an infatuation with celebrities also displays modern society’s views, where ideas such as stardom, fortune, and beauty are celebrated, overshadowing other ideals such as intelligence and activism. Yashika Kamatchi Sundaram, a junior at Dublin High says, “It’s interesting how people are more likely to gravitate towards stories that involve celebrity drama and paparazzi stories instead of real-world issues. I feel like this can grow to be a bigger problem later where people focus on celebrities instead of developing worldwide issues.”
Fundamentally, the interest taken in the lives of those in the top one percent reveals a lot about the current climate of the world. It highlights the need for connection in the increasingly digital age, as well as the need to immerse in the lives of those who live glamorously. Celebrities can be seen as the ones who make up the current cultural landscape as they can act as mirrors in society. It is surely possible to engage healthily with celebrity information and lives, but recognizing when one is overly immersing oneself in celebrity life is crucial as it can make the difference between creating peoples’ individual values and the values people are expected to have.
