Many people believe that media coverage of celebrities is having a negetive effect on children. To what extent do you agree?

In the

, news about famous people may have been confined to gossip columns in newspapers, these days it is not uncommon for celebrities to feature as front page news. There is evidence that the public feels there is too much news coverage of famous people. Not surprisingly, there is concern about how

might be affecting people, and

children.
One of the possible negative consequences of the cult of

is the tendency to confuse fame and notoriety.

scandals are just as likely to receive publicity as

achievements. Indeed, some famous people have received more attention for their misuse of

and

than for their successes on the

sports. Children who crave attention may come to see misbehaviour as normal.
The emphasis on individuals in the public eye may

be at

of serious news coverage.

to the superficial excitement of

gossip, news about serious events and issues, that have a more profound effect on people_s lives may seem uninteresting. Children may be forming a very

picture of how the world works.
The negative influence of celebrities on children can

be seen in children_s career aspirations. These days, young people are much more to see themselves as potential sports stars or entertainers. The prevalence of these

in the mass media may convey the impression that

positions are plentiful. Children may be developing unrealistic expectations that they too will become rich and famous.
In summary, the cult of

may be affecting children in a number of undesirable ways. It is important that children be taught to critically evaluate what they see in the media so that they can form a more realistic view of the society, acceptable behaviour and indeed themselves