Celebrity culture and its influence on young people has become an increasingly common topic in IELTS Writing Task 2. Based on analysis of past exam questions and Celebrity culture and its impact on youth, this theme appears in approximately 15% of recent tests, particularly in questions about social media, role models, and consumer behavior.
The effects of celebrity culture on youth behavior through social media platforms
Recent IELTS Question Analysis
Some people think that celebrities have a positive influence on young people’s behavior, while others believe their impact is negative. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Question Breakdown
- Topic: Celebrity influence on youth
- Task: Discussion + Opinion
- Focus: Evaluate both positive and negative impacts
- Key requirements: Balanced discussion, clear position, relevant examples
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8.5)
The impact of celebrity culture on youth is a contentious issue that merits careful consideration. While some argue that celebrities serve as inspiring role models, others contend that their influence can be detrimental to young people’s development.
Those who support celebrity influence often point to their potential as positive role models. Many celebrities use their platform to promote charitable causes, environmental awareness, and social justice. For instance, when renowned actors advocate for education in developing countries or support humanitarian causes, they inspire young people to become more socially conscious and engaged in community service.
However, critics argue that celebrity culture can negatively impact youth behavior. The role of social media influencers in shaping youth culture has led to unrealistic beauty standards and materialistic values. Young people often attempt to emulate celebrities’ luxurious lifestyles, leading to financial irresponsibility and decreased self-esteem. Moreover, when celebrities exhibit controversial behavior, it can normalize negative conduct among impressionable youth.
In my opinion, while celebrity influence can be positive when properly channeled, the current celebrity culture predominantly exercises a negative impact on young people. The emphasis on superficial aspects of success, coupled with the constant exposure through social media, creates unrealistic expectations and potentially harmful behavioral patterns.
To conclude, although celebrities can serve as positive role models, their overall influence on youth behavior tends to be more negative than positive in today’s digital age. It is crucial for young people to develop critical thinking skills to navigate celebrity culture responsibly.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6.5)
Celebrities have big influence on young people today. Some people think this is good thing while others say it is bad. I will discuss both sides and give my opinion.
On the positive side, celebrities can make young people do good things. Many famous people help charity and talk about important issues like environment and education. When young people see their favorite stars doing good things, they want to copy them. This makes youth more helpful to society.
But there are also bad effects. The influence of celebrity endorsements on social behavior shows many problems. Young people spend too much money trying to buy expensive things like celebrities. Also, some stars behave badly and young fans copy this behavior. This is not good for society.
In my opinion, I think celebrity influence is mostly negative today. Because of social media, young people see too much about celebrity life and try to copy everything. This makes them forget real life values.
To finish, while some good things come from celebrity influence, I believe it causes more problems for young people. Society should teach youth to think carefully about celebrity culture.
Analysis of Band Scores
Band 8.5 Essay Features:
- Sophisticated vocabulary: “contentious,” “detrimental,” “emulate”
- Complex sentence structures
- Clear paragraph organization
- Strong cohesive devices
- Well-developed arguments with specific examples
Band 6.5 Essay Features:
- Simple but clear vocabulary
- Basic sentence structures
- Some grammar errors
- Limited use of cohesive devices
- Basic development of ideas
Key Vocabulary
- contentious (adj) /kənˈtenʃəs/ – causing disagreement or controversy
- detrimental (adj) /ˌdetrɪˈmentl/ – causing harm or damage
- emulate (v) /ˈemjuleɪt/ – match or surpass through imitation
- superficial (adj) /ˌsuːpəˈfɪʃl/ – concerned only with the surface or obvious
- impressionable (adj) /ɪmˈpreʃənəbl/ – easily influenced
Conclusion
Understanding the impact of celebrity culture on youth behavior remains a significant IELTS topic. Practice writing essays on related themes like social media influence, role model effects, and consumer behavior among young people. Share your practice essays in the comments for feedback and improvement.
