Celebrity obsession harming kids: study

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London, Mar 14 : Celluloid heroes like Abhiskek Bachchan or cricketers MS Dhoni and Sachin Tendulkar are often idolised by kids. But, a new study has claimed that obsession with celebrities is actually harming the children.

Researchers in Britain have carried out the study and found that the cult of celebrity is producing a generation that believes education and hard work are not at all important in achieving success.

According to the study by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers in the United Kingdom, these children would grow up to feel a sense of failure, alienation and low self-esteem when celebrity status is not achieved.

“Celebrities can have a positive effect on pupils. They can raise pupils’ aspirations. But we are concerned that many pupils believe celebrity status is available to everyone.

“They do not understand the hard work it takes to achieve such status and do not think it is important to be actively engaged in school work as education is not needed for a celebrity status,” the association’s general secretary Mary Bousted was quoted by The Daily Telegraph as saying.

The researchers came to the conclusion after they conducted a survey in which 70% of teachers in primary and secondary schools said that the cult of celebrity was perverting children’s aspirations and expectations. About 37% of the teachers interviewed believe their pupils want to be famous for being famous. They fear that many youngsters do not realise how hard their idols have worked to earn their fame.