'Celebrity worship' distracts people from real-world problems

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I wish I wasn't so interested in celebrities.

I'm 24 years old, almost 25, and I think I'm past the point where I care about or know about some of the most popular people in our culture. I've been down too many rabbit holes lately to say I know far too much about the latest celebrity debates. Zendaya's red carpet look, JoJo Siwa's new goth rebrand, and Jennifer Lopez's failed attempt at cosplaying as a working-class Bronx girl are just a few from last month.

Admittedly, I don't care enough to worship anyone with the utmost respect and forgive all their sins. But in the grand scheme of things, none of it really matters. As we get older, we want to stop worrying about people who have more and more contact with other people. More people, especially the younger generation, should consider doing the same.

But celebrity worship is powerful and has functioned that way for a long time.

For me, following celebrity gossip as it unfolds with more people's perspectives, hot takes, and evidence is like watching a reality show. I know it's wrong and stupid, but I also can't look away. I've seen dozens of TikToks where creators express their thoughts on a single topic, such as JLo's much-maligned bodega order. Get Featured Accounts on X, formerly known as Twitter, and you'll be updated with everything from people who publish new selfies to people who unfollow their girlfriends on Instagram.

But no matter how much we absorb, we always wish we had more reasons to stay online, roll our eyes, laugh, or even get angry and frustrated. You worry too much about things that aren't really worth worrying about. I become obsessed with the very thing I want to erase.

And then, just when you think it's over and the last conversation has died down, a new scandal or drama comes up and the cycle begins all over again.

When we look back at our history, it becomes clear that it was designed that way. As long as there have been systems that divide people into classes, there have been celebrities at the top, along with fame, privilege, power, and wealth. Consider the British monarchy, which has existed for 1,200 years and continues to fascinate the masses today. Or Mozart, one of the many musicians whose popularity rose with the help of thousands of fans.

Even today, we are obsessed with celebrities, especially those in the arts such as actors, singers, dancers, musicians, and even professional athletes. But the accessibility of social media has made it possible for virtually anyone to become part of the cultural elite, and for better or worse, it now includes influencers, online creators, models, and internet personalities. .

Social media also allows fans to form close parasocial relationships with their favorite celebrities, as people can share every aspect of their lives, from what they do every day to what they had for breakfast. It's now easier. Over time, we feel like we know them and respect them with a mixture of jealousy, admiration, and obsession.

Especially as a kid who regularly watched children's entertainment, I felt like I was truly friends with the child actors I watched growing up throughout my childhood.

Of course, another part of their appeal is the escapism they offer in a world that continually gives us reasons to be hopeless and pessimistic. When many of us are stuck at school or sitting at our desks, we search for celebrities on social media to see their beauty, charm, sponsored ads, and keep track of the latest scandals. I often find myself getting a mental break. X's boat.

We could spend that time reading a book, texting, indulging in self-care, or sitting alone with our thoughts, but instead, the lives of celebrities are the ones we It gives me an outlet to not be present in the space I am in. ourselves from reality.

There's nothing wrong with following celebrity culture as long as it's used for irony or entertainment. But I know too many people are more obsessed with Kylie Jenner's activities than keeping up with the latest happenings around the world. Or who would be willing to engage in consumer activism by buying from their favorite influencers, rather than save money and reduce the risk of sending even more waste to the landfill?

I have become increasingly disillusioned with celebrities and the role they play in our national and global culture, especially in light of the current genocide in Palestine and the ongoing humanitarian crises in Sudan and Congo. I'm starting to do that. It's bad enough that many of them seek to gain fame and fortune through exploitation, poor labor practices, and misinformed statements about important issues.

But when we need to pay attention to what is happening around us, their role as a break from reality no longer feels necessary or even borderline dangerous. As I write this, the U.S. Supreme Court has effectively abolished the right to mass protests in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, allowing our tax dollars to actively support genocide in foreign countries. This is followed by one of the most important presidential elections in U.S. history. this year. We cannot afford to be left behind or lack awareness when it comes to issues of citizen participation and the structure of our nation's political life.

There's nothing wrong with enjoying some entertainment from time to time, but you can't let distractions control you. Now, more than ever, celebrity worship is outdated, unnecessary, and deserves to be freed from it.

Sofia Aguilar is a first-year graduate student in the Library and Information Science program. Her column appears weekly. You can contact her at: [email protected].