LiveWorld Transcripts

tNBC presents

t-Talk
Teen Idols

March 07, 2001

So what do you think of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and the Boy Bands? t-talk answers questions about teen idols and whether or not they make good role models for teenagers.

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TNBC: Welcome to t-Talk, tNBC's chat room. tNBC and NBCi provide this service as entertainment for their users. The individuals providing information and advice are not professional counselors and the opinions and advice given do not necessarily reflect the views of tNBC and NBCi. Boring but necessary information. You agree not to use offensive language or personally attack any other participants or third parties. You are solely responsible for all of your communications, and you agree not to violate or infringe upon the rights of others. NBCi and Talk City reserve the right, but are not obligated, to edit or delete any information deemed to violate these ground rules. NBCi and Talk City reserve the right to suspend access to anyone who violates these rules. NBCi and Talk City also reserve the right to republish, disseminate and broadcast any materials posted. t-Talk, we have some great questions today. Let's get to them!

Leeza: Do you think teen idol crushes have changed a lot since the days of Donny Osmond and Bobby Sherman?

TTalk: I think the crushes have changed. Not only have they changed, but they've intensified. What I mean by that is people are going more to the extreme. More to the extreme by dressing up like them and trying to be like them. Just so long as they're not pulling their hair out and hurting themselves, then that's to an extreme.

Louise: Do you think teen idol crushes are healthy or should parents be worried?

TTalk: I think they're healthy. If it's a positive role model, teens look up to these role models and I think in today's society, you need to have some kind of role model. But I think it's also important to separate what is real and what is performance.

Busy Mom: I'm a parent of 2 teenagers. My role model was Barbra Streisand. She's worlds apart from Christina Aguilera. I don't think some of these "stars" today are good role models for kids. What advice would you give a parent in situations where they disapprove of their kids' choices of role models?

TTalk: As far as music and lyrics go, sometimes we choose these people for what they think and what they're singing about. Barbra Streisand has always sung love songs, and I think what they didn't have back then was sex appeal, and that changes a lot of things with teens. I think today's performers are more identifiable with who they are and their sexuality, and it creates conversation with your children. You know, it's more open than back then when it wasn't mentioned, and you didn't question it. That can be a plus if it's being talked about. I would have to agree with you, on the other hand, that sometimes it's too over the top, and there is a limit to what a role model should do and be responsible for. I'm sure being on a stage is a mere performance act to get media hype and attention. The more you look at it, that can't be exemplary role model behavior, so I do agree with you on that. You might want to explain to your teen that is a performance and for show value and marketing purposes to create the commotion to make money, and everyone watches it and glamorizes it. So long as you instill good morals and values and your teens respect their bodies and themselves, you can find something positive in what these young pop stars have to offer. Examples may be their dedication to their work, their training and discipline. Those are good things to look to and are good examples. They're not for everyone, but you have to find the good in what's out there in whatever your teen is attracted to.

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