Saudi Gazette report
TEENAGERS’ obsession with celebrities all over the world is no secret and the Kingdom is no exception. Many youngsters have become so obsessed that they look up and try to imitate their favorite stars by dressing up, getting the same haircut and keeping up with their lives.
Many even keep photos of the stars on their phones but what is it about celebrities that make teens want to look up to them?
To find the answer, Al-Riyadh daily spoke to several teachers and experts. Zahra Al-Shehri, a teacher, believes that social media websites and the Internet should be blamed for the obsession teenage girls have with celebrities.
“Girls get on the Internet and read news about their favorite singers or actors off various celebrity sites.
I think these girls feel empty inside and that is why they get attached to these celebrities and hang their posters in their rooms or even wear shirts that have pictures of celebrities on them,” Al-Shehri said.
Nada Al-Sakeet, also a teacher, said parents should break all barriers between them and their daughters and try to get closer to and spend more time with them.
“Parents should also encourage their teenagers to do volunteer work or something constructive with their spare time,” she said.
Psychological problems
Some studies have shown a common link between psychological problems such as depression and anxiety to an obsession with celebrities.
The studies note the influence of social media websites and how they have helped spread celebrity culture. Hanadi is a high school student who believes it is perfectly normal for a teenager to fall in love with a singer, especially if the singer sings about matters that are relevant to her life.
On the other hand, Umm Zeyad believes that such an obsession is a negative trend that will have consequences on the teenager’s life.
Dr. Ahmad Al-Hadi, a psychologist, said there are several reasons why a teenager may become obsessed with a celebrity.
On top of his list was social media websites, followed by the Internet and smart phones. “In the past, teenagers were also crazy about celebrities but not as crazy as they are today,” Al-Hadi noted.
“Parents should treat this obsession wisely and calmly. They should try to find out why their son or daughter is crazy about a certain celebrity and what made them develop this love.
The best way to deal with this problem is to get closer to the children and try to understand their reasons behind the obsession,” he added.
