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  Life   More Features  04 Nov 2018  My life, your rules

My life, your rules

AGE CORRESPONDENT
Published : Nov 4, 2018, 12:13 am IST
Updated : Nov 4, 2018, 12:13 am IST

Are celebrities judged based on their social media posts?

Image for representative purpose only
 Image for representative purpose only

Nowadays, people are so obsessed with the social media posts of celebrities, interfering in their personal affairs. Celebrities are often bullied for their posts and photos, too. The latest victim is TV star Shveta Salve, who was accused of being a ‘bad mom’ when she posted a photo of herself smoking a cigarette with a glass of wine in her hand. The messages and comments criticised her for ‘setting a bad example’ for her daughter. She took her time to respond to the critics, and made it clear that those who had a problem with her habits could unfollow her. “Live and let live,” she wrote. “How does this make me a bad person or a bad mom?? Do you see me wasting my life? Do you see me neglecting my child?”

Does posting photos of smoking and drinking somehow affect the image of a female celebrity? While male celebrities usually post such photos on social media, why are the people bothered when a woman does it? Or, like in the comments, are the celebrities really setting a bad example for the future generation?

Far-fetched idea
Dr Mamta Shah, psychologist

Social media has both positive and negative sides. It facilitates sharing of information, ideas, interests, and many other forms of expression on the virtual computer-based platform. They keep people connected. At the same time, using them heavily has its consequences, such as cyber bullying, trolling, and cyber harassment. This all can lead to anxiety and depression. Celebrities are always on the watch on social media, female celebrities even more so.

They are continuously scrutinised for their actions even when male celebrities behave in similar ways. To insinuate female celebrities corrupting future generations due to posting pictures of smoking and drinking is a far-fetched idea. Children in this generation have easy accessibility to social media. Hiding a fact from a child only increases mistrust because children grow up and can put two and two together.

Of course, a parent has the responsibility to communicate with the children and explain healthy and unhealthy practices to them.  

Leave it to the parents
Priyanka M.B., psychologist

According to learning and behavioural schools of thought, learning occurs through three forms — visual, auditory and kinaesthetic — which means, by seeing, listening and doing. The focus must be shifted from gender disparities to the impact of social media on daily living. Parents play a pivotal role in the growth and development of a child and begin to truly reflect them at various points in time. Therefore, leave it to the parents to choose on their style of parenting and child rearing. It’s best suggested that we reflect on our personal life and respect every individual’s personal and professional choice.

Celebrity is a role model
Nisha Jamvwal, celebrity columnist

First of all, I don’t support trolling at all. It’s not anybody’s place to be obnoxious and judgmental, whether it’s towards a celebrity or otherwise. Having said that, I think being a mother is a big responsibility. You have to conduct yourself with a certain amount of decorum and decency because your child will pick up what he or she sees. Lastly, I think being a celebrity comes with a baggage since thousands look up to you. You become a role model of sorts and so it’s important to exercise a kind of moral policing over your own actions.

Stalking made easy
Deepa Antony, writer

Social media makes the trend of ‘celebrity stalking’ quite easy. But we hardly get to see the real people behind these curated celebrity pictures. But with whatever little we do see, we assume that we have now been given an exclusive access pass into the private life of the celebrity.  From whatever we see on social media we create an image about the celebrity, and must he/she do something that contradicts the image we made up in our imagination, we assume the role of an attorney who sits in judgment of their lives. Shouldn’t we  take a moment and think how we would feel if a stranger would suddenly start policing us on how we live our lives — our choices and our decisions?

Don't judge women
Ashna Misra, model

As women, we have the right to acknowledge and accept ourselves for what we are. What a woman does in her free time is something that shouldn’t be judged. Half the men of the country aren’t targeted like this. It is self explanatory and everyone spends it differently without any judgements. However, I tend to not post too many of my personal updates on social media. Everyone needs to mind their own business and let others live the way they want to.

Choose your lifestyle
Kaniha, actress

The whole idea of the celebrities having a social media profile is to let people know about their lives. Once you put yourself out there, you need to accept criticism and negative feedback. I personally feel that you have so many people following you, there’s a certain amount of responsibility I have. But at the same time, people  embarrassing the personality is also wrong. Smoking and drinking are definitely injurious to health, that’s the kind of message I personally give out, but people who don’t shouldn’t be criticised either. The recent past had seen male celebrities owning up to their responsibilities, even in movies, some actors refuse to do certain kind of scenes that involve smoking or drinking, so to some extent they have also stepped up.

Tags: social media, personal affairs