The Dilemma of Being a Teenager Today

Teenagers in today's society have, to a great degree, the best and the worst of all worlds.

First, they are born into a society that couldn't be more revolutionary and innovative. They have all these gadgets at their disposal that their parents dreamt of and their grandparents couldn't even imagine. They have an incredible amount of information to aid their development. They also have opportunities galore to express themselves, to extend their reach, to discover their potential and to enhance their life quality. They would not be able to imagine what my world was like, 50 years ago, having to read by candles, having no phones at all, having nothing electrical and hardly any buses (we had to walk everywhere!). The mobile, the microwave, the video and Internet appear to represent an alien world I would not have believed capable of existing in my early childhood. So our youngsters couldn't be more fortunate.

However, they are having to learn even more than we had to do. There are so many things expected of them that they have to cope with, AND teach their parents as well, it must be kind of heavy to deal with, when all they want is to be looked after themselves. Many are confused about their identity, their ability, potential and direction. They have little guidance on innovations and, on top of that, many are kept back in their own development because of their parents' fear of this new world; the mental barriers the parents might have erected in their bid to cope with a new and threatening environment; one that has partially robbed them of their confidence and authority.

Finally, teenagers are increasingly operating within a world of their own through technology, especially with the new games, often lacking human warmth and comfort. They occupy a suspicious world where hugs and basic affection come with questions, doubts and caution. Many of them go through each day missing out on a simple cuddle, a word of praise, a hug, an affirmation of how wonderful they are and without understanding, affection and value. Without the extended family of friends and neighbours who used to affirm us and look after us, many youth now feel isolated, excluded and unloved. This increases the deviant tendency among them as many struggle to deal with their anger and pain. Teenagers live in a remarkable world compared to the one of yesteryear, but one which is slowly losing social connections while it traps the young in an oasis of insularity and virtual reality

The cult of celebrity and its effects on society

The cult of celebrity has risen in importance at the same time that belief in God, or a higher being has been waning, and television has become more dominant. People have a natural instinct to look to someone for reflection, affirmation and authority: whether a hero, mentor, protector or higher power, and what makes celebrities popular at the moment is exactly what they symbolise and represent, that 'higher' being, with many people turning away from religion.

Celebrities tap into our need to be significant and they realise our dream of freedom, riches and fame - a potent lifestyle combination which many people crave, especially younger ones on the threshold of life. Celebrities these days, especially those emerging from reality shows like American Idol, are usually ordinary people plucked from obscurity to be famous, and that gives many others hope that something similar may happen to them. Now with the Internet and television running a constant stream of celebrity images, news and gossip, people are bombarded daily with a lifestyle many aspire to. The net effect has been a dramatic shift in society regarding values, priorities and aspirations.

Our values are changing in that many people are no longer famous for doing something regarded as ethically and socially beneficial. Many celebrities, like Paris Hilton, are famous simply for having a wealthy background and being famous, while others, like Amy Winehouse, Britney Spears, are famous for being bad. Naturally, because there is no real substance to their fame, they tend to be boring individuals whose looks and background become the currency for attention, but are equally transient because they lack depth or are trashing their lives. Our priorities are also changing in how we view one another because anything to do with celebrities tend to take centre stage. Celebrities are the hallmarks by which everything else is judged and they set the tone and standard for fashion and behaviour. Nothing guarantees an audience like having a celebrity involved. Thus the cult of celebrity is dominating all aspects of life, especially when it comes to media attention and establishing social priorities.

Finally, society's aspirations are changing, primarily for occupations, where the more glamorous jobs are now sought after, especially media related, as many youngsters seek their own 15 minutes of fame to emulate their heroes. That explains the glut of reality shows on television at the moment as people seek personal exposure to be significant even for a few minutes. Wth celebrities so accessible, their presence makes everything seem possible. There is no doubt that the cult of celebrity is changing society beyond recognition, especially when technology is helping to boost that adoration and worship. But, like any fashion or fad, no doubt it will be replaced by something else when its current appeal has faded.