Copying Famous People

Some young people like to copy the behaviour and clothes of famous people today.

Why might this be the case? 

What problems can it cause?

Certain segments of the younger generation today display an elevated propensity for imitating celebrities’ behaviours and fashion choices. The widespread ubiquity of social platforms is chiefly culpable for this phenomenon which, in turn, engenders a partial loss of cultural identity within a given nation.

The major reason behind increased imitation on the part of the young is the advent of the Internet and its concomitant by-product, social networks. Though there are social psychologists arguing the case for an ingrained human desire to embrace superior qualities to one’s own, social media above all has facilitated this shift. An average teenager in the 1990s, for example, would also dress similarly to renowned pop singers and Hollywood stars, and generally, aspire to the standards of contemporary celebrities. However, such a degree of imitation was only limited to a much lesser extent compared to today’s teenagers who, with the aid of social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, have the access needed to successfully adopt the styles of celebrities in all aspects of their life. This can be evidenced in many facets of 21st-century pop culture including Internet memes, parodies, short-formed videos, and clothing styles. 

This societal shift engenders issues related to both individuals and society at large. For the average person, relentless imitation can be associated with one gradually losing their identity despite ostensible feelings of unity in an increasingly globalised world. When one is obsessed with following others’ lifestyle choices, it is much more likely for one to begin losing their own core values. This can be clearly seen in the degree of similarity between how young people dress, design their hairstyles, eat, and communicate with others in the modern world. Over time, many people conforming to the same standards results in a far less vibrant society, deprived arguably of individual uniqueness. In many countries and communities around the world today, young people have already adopted a limited range of styles and certain ways of behaviour. To that end, the diversity stemming from differences will likely be lost in the foreseeable future which could result in a dreary, monotonous world.

In conclusion, the ubiquity of social platforms results in increased imitation of celebrities and this can cause problems related to both individuals and society on the whole. Individuals themselves should take the initiative to counter this trend towards monotony.

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Essay Breakdown

Structure

Introduction

[1] Certain segments of the younger generation today display an elevated propensity for imitating celebrities’ behaviours and fashion choices. [2] The widespread ubiquity of [2.1] social platforms is chiefly culpable for this phenomenon which, in turn, engenders a partial [2.2] loss of cultural identity within a given nation.

1. Paraphrase the topic – the fact that more and more young people like to imitate how celebrities behave and what they wear

2. Write a clear opinion to state personal viewpoints and signpost what will be discussed in the essay

2.1 Answer the first question – social platforms being ubiquitous is the main cause

2.2 Answer the second question – loss of cultural identity

Body

Paragraph 1

[1] The major reason behind increased imitation on the part of the young is the advent of the Internet and its concomitant by-product, social networks. [2] Though there are social psychologists arguing the case for an ingrained human desire to embrace superior qualities to one’s own, social media above all has facilitated this shift. [3] An average teenager in the 1990s, for example, would also dress similarly to renowned pop singers and Hollywood stars, and generally, aspire to the standards of contemporary celebrities. [4] However, such a degree of imitation was only limited to a much lesser extent compared to today’s teenagers who, with the aid of social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, have the access needed to successfully adopt the styles of celebrities in all aspects of their life. [5] This can be evidenced in many facets of 21st-century pop culture including Internet memes, parodies, short-formed videos, and clothing styles. 

1. A topic sentence showing the main idea – the Internet and its by-product (social networks) are the causes.

2. An explanation illustrating the gravity of social media in facilitating imitation

3. Use an example from the past (with ideas relevant to the main idea) to later connect to an idea from today’s world

4. A supporting idea to contrast the previous example to emphasize the role of social media platforms in aiding teenagers to adopt celebrities’ styles

5. Give examples (memes, parodies,…) to further explain it.

Paragraph 2

[1] This societal shift engenders issues related to both individuals and society at large. [2] For the average person, relentless imitation can be associated with one gradually losing their identity despite ostensible feelings of unity in an increasingly globalised world. [3] When one is obsessed with following others’ lifestyle choices, it is much more likely for one to begin losing their own core values. [4] This can be clearly seen in the degree of similarity between how young people dress, design their hairstyles, eat, and communicate with others in the modern world. [5] Over time, many people conforming to the same standards results in a far less vibrant society, deprived arguably of individual uniqueness. [6] In many countries and communities around the world today, young people have already adopted a limited range of styles and certain ways of behaviour. [7] To that end, the diversity stemming from differences will likely be lost in the foreseeable future which could result in a dreary, monotonous world.

1. A topic sentence expressing the main idea – issues on a personal and societal level

2. First supporting idea – the gradual loss of identity for the average person

3. Support the previous idea by giving an explanation

4. Develop the explanation by giving an example

5. Second supporting idea – the negative impacts on society

6. Use a fact as an example

7. Show the consequences that the idea in the previous example lead to

Conclusion

[1] In conclusion, the ubiquity of social platforms results in increased imitation of celebrities and this can cause problems related to both individuals and society on the whole. [2] Individuals themselves should take the initiative to counter this trend towards monotony.

1. Restate my opinion – the ubiquity of social media exerts negative impacts on individuals and society

2. Extend the viewpoint by stating a final thought

Vocabulary

Certain segments of the younger generation today display an elevated propensity for imitating celebrities’ behaviours and fashion choices. The widespread ubiquity of social platforms is chiefly culpable for this phenomenon which, in turn, engenders a partial loss of cultural identity within a given nation.

The major reason behind increased imitation on the part of the young is the advent of the Internet and its concomitant by-product, social networks. Though there are social psychologists arguing the case for an ingrained human desire to embrace superior qualities to one’s own, social media above all has facilitated this shift. An average teenager in the 1990s, for example, would also dress similarly to renowned pop singers and Hollywood stars, and generally, aspire to the standards of contemporary celebrities. However, such a degree of imitation was only limited to a much lesser extent compared to today’s teenagers who, with the aid of social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, have the access needed to successfully adopt the styles of celebrities in all aspects of their life. This can be evidenced in many facets of 21st-century pop culture including Internet memes, parodies, short-formed videos, and clothing styles. 

This societal shift engenders issues related to both individuals and society at large. For the average person, relentless imitation can be associated with one gradually losing their identity despite ostensible feelings of unity in an increasingly globalised world. When one is obsessed with following others’ lifestyle choices, it is much more likely for one to begin losing their own core values. This can be clearly seen in the degree of similarity between how young people dress, design their hairstyles, eat, and communicate with others in the modern world. Over time, many people conforming to the same standards results in a far less vibrant society, deprived arguably of individual uniqueness. In many countries and communities around the world today, young people have already adopted a limited range of styles and certain ways of behaviour. To that end, the diversity stemming from differences will likely be lost in the foreseeable future which could result in a dreary, monotonous world.

In conclusion, the ubiquity of social platforms results in increased imitation of celebrities and this can cause problems related to both individuals and society on the whole. Individuals themselves should take the initiative to counter this trend towards monotony.

Vocabulary Highlight

• Display an elevated propensity: have a strong inclination to/ have a strong tendency to
• ubiquity (n): the fact that something seems to be everywhere or in several places at the same time
• culpable (adj) for: responsible and deserving blame for having done something wrong
• phenomenon (n): a fact or an event in nature or society
• engender (v): to make a feeling or situation exist
• advent (n) of: the coming of an important event
• concomitant (adj): happening at the same time as something else, especially because one thing is related to or causes the other
• by-product (n): a thing that happens, often unexpectedly, as the result of something else
• ingrained (adj): existed for a long time and is therefore difficult to change
• contemporary (adj): belonging to the same time
• to a much lesser extent: to a much lesser degree
• relentless (adj): not stopping; not getting less strong
• obsessed (v) with: to completely fill your mind so that you cannot think of anything else, in a way that is not reasonable or normal
• conform (v): to behave and think in the same way as most other people in a group or society
• vibrant (adj): full of life and energy
• deprive of (phrasal verb):  to prevent somebody from having or doing something, especially something important
• foreseeable (adj): that you can predict will happen; that can be foreseen
• dreary (adj): that makes you feel sad; not bright or interesting
• monotonous (adj): never changing and therefore boring
• counter this trend towards monotony: reverse the trend towards boredom

Reading

Further reading can be found here:

https://www.quora.com/Why-do-ordinary-people-copy-famous-people

Listening

Further listening can be found here: