With 75 million daily users, Instagram is the 7th top ranked social media site. Just under a third of Instagram's 200 million total users are between the ages of 15 and 20. Many celebrities use Instagram, most of who can be considered teenage "role models". Some of these celebrities include Rihanna (@badgalriri), Justin Bieber (@justinbieber), Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus), Niall Horan (@niallhoran), Channing Tatum (@channingtatum), Lady Gaga (@ladygaga), Zac Efron (@zefron), Taylor Swift (@taylorswift), Ke$ha (@mynameiskesha). So what pictures do these "role models" post?
Miley Cyrus (@mileycyrus)
In this picture, posted by Miley Cyrus' Instagram shows Cyrus' smoking a cigar casually... so how is this negative to teenagers today? Even though Cyrus is twenty-one years old and is allowed to make her own decisions, this picture describes smoking as being "chill" and appropriate to her young followers. Cyrus has many fans that look up to her as a person, but pictures likes these tell teenagers that doing drugs is reasonable and won't harm their futures. Although, Cyrus looks great in the photo, she would look just a great without the cigar in her hand and the smoke weaving out of her mouth; yet these components are critical in showing the art of Cyrus' message. Cyrus' may be in the spotlight right now with her new hair cut, her beauty, and her popular songs; but advertising drugs to teens isn't a healthy or safe road for the developing generation.
Justin Bieber (@Justinbieber)
In this picture, posted by Justin Bieber, Bieber is doing an impersonation of James Dean by hanging a cigarette out of his mouth. Now as much as Bieber looks likes James Dean in the photo, similar to Miley Cyrus, the twenty year old pop singer shouldn't be advertising the use of smoking to thirteen year old girls/boys. Like Cyrus, Bieber is of age to make his own decisions,but being a social icon and star to the teenage population, the actions Bieber takes need to be taken in consideration as to who sees these photos. Justin Bieber may be moving out of boyhood and progressing into manhood, but being a pop singer with sixteen million followers on Instagram has its perks and its boundaries.
Niall HOran (@NiallHoran)
In this photo, Niall Horan posts a pic of his nose being covered by an adorable little monster... there are literally no other words to describe this picture... literally. Horan is a United Kingdom pop singer that is amazingly well known to the teenage culture. Unlike Justin Bieber, Niall posts pictures not with cigarettes in his mouth, but quirky toys on his nose that represent his likes and personality. Pictures likes these emphasize on the trait of searching for identity and being who they are; these are the essential qualities for teenagers to understand today. While Miley and Justin posts pictures of smoking that these childhood stars have grown into, Niall will keep posting pictures of being his peculiar self and will always stay true to his identity.
Channing Tatum (@ChanningTatum)
In this photo, Channing Tatum posts a picture of his beautiful wife Jenna Dewan. While Tatum is to be considered one of the most handsome men that walks the earth, Tatum doesn't post pictures of doing drugs, alcohol, or other topics that have conformed to the 21st century media. Rather he posts pictures of what truly matters most to him; his family. This pictures alone shows Tatum's loyalty and commitment to his family as well as being extremely popular to the teenage population while still posting appropriate photos that describe who he is. Tatum's amount of direction, perception, and understanding of what social media can do demonstrates how teenagers can still look to celebrities that have moral and integral values. With Tatum's three million followers on Instagram, those followers are lucky to follow a celebrity that thinks before he posts.