Upscale EmulationThe beautiful silent killer: are celebrity endorsements hindering our children's

mental health and body image? Can this be mitigated?

Photo Credit: Fabio Tiéri, FlickrBy: Tyler Morrison

“80 percent of all 10- year-old, American girls have been on a

diet” (Gross 1)

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Snob Appeal Celebrity Endorsements Sex Sell

Photo Credit: Hanna P., Flickr

“endorsments have indicated that sales for some brands increased up to 20% upon

commencing an endorsement deal” (Crutchfield 1) 

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Photo Credit: Justin Hambleton, Flickr

Making money is more important then being real; and its costing the young

generation.

“Everyone huddled in a cyber-cocoon … a culture of home based iDistraction

(Kupnik)

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“celebrity advertisments, models, TV and movies, in which

bodies are air-brushed and preteens are used in adult advertisments without the

“burden” of body fat or wrinkles… and you can see how

difficult it is for your teen to maintain a balanced and healthy

body image” (Gross 1)

Photo Credit: Neil Moralee, Flickr

“Some companies have their stock increase .25% on the

day the deal (celebrity endorsement) was

announced” (Crutchfield 1)

Parents need to be more aware of the pitfalls of social networking sites (SNSs) and actively engage with young people in making it a safer and enjoyable experience for them. Parents should consider frequent use of SNSs as a possible indicator of, or risk for, mental health problems

among children (Payne 5)

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“teens who are on social media for more than two hours a day, a full one-quarter of students in the study, report poor self-

rated mental health, psychological distress, suicidal ideation or unmet need

for mental health support” (Payne, 2) Photo Credit: tristonlaned, Flickr

What Can We Do

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Be there for teens either as a parent or a guide

Don’t underestimate the importance of parental influence as an inoculation

against peer group pressure and celebrity socialization. The values that you have instilled in your child while she is young can and will support her during her teen

years. (Gross 3)

Be empathetic

Communicate with (the) child through active listening in a non-defensive

way regularly, and you will create a safe space in which your child can tell

you how she (he) feels and how she (he) is doing. (Gross 4)

Photo Credit: Allyde Winters

Be what you want to see

If you are a parent who is influenced by celebrity and obsessed with body

image and your weight, you will set a poor example of health, both

emotionally and physically, for your teen. (Gross 5)

Photo Credit: Avery Carlton, Flickr

Reach out to others

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Teaching knowledge on registering endorsements

Photo Credit: Susana Fernandez

Understand when you're being lured

Stand for not being drawn into celebrity marketing. The famous

faces that adorn ads ranging from cars to makeup are there to draw

your emotional reactions (Krauss 3)

Photo Credit: Thiago Lopes

Turn off your emotions

Our impulse purchases are usually the ones that get us into

trouble. Make your buying decisions on solid, objective

grounds. (Krauss 4)

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Do your research

Online retail sites can serve as terrific ways to make wise purchases, especially

if they provide consumer ratings of products you plan to buy. Read their

advice carefully. (Krauss 5)Photo Credit: espinozr, Flickr

ReferencesGross, G. Celebrity Influence On Your Teen’s Body Image. Huffington Post. 2016. Retrieved from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-gail-gross/celebrity-influence-on-your-teens-body-

image_b_7233856.html

Crutchfield, D. Celebrity Endorsements Still Push Product. Advertising Age. 2010. Retrieved from

http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/marketing-celebrity-endorsements-push-product/146023/

Krauss, S. The lure of celebrity endorsements. Psychology Today. 2011. Retrieved

from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fulfillment-any-age/201104/the-lure-celebrity-

endorsements

Film 240, Module 01 Lecture 02. Media Effects. 2016. Retrieved from

https://onq.queensu.ca/d2l/le/content/71613/viewContent/861574/View

Film 240, Module 02 Lecture 01. Analyzing Adverts. 2016. Retrieved from

https://onq.queensu.ca/d2l/le/content/71613/viewContent/861574/View

Payne, E. Teens' poor mental health linked to social media use. Ottawa Citizen. 2015. Retrieved

from http://search.proquest.com.proxy.queensu.ca/docview/1702249271?accountid=6180