WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM CELEBRITY CHILDREN
THE PRESSURES OF INTERNET FAME
A few months ago, USA Today ran an article titled “Leni Klum, Lori Harvey, Lourdes Leon, and more celebrity kids becoming fashion trendsetters.” The article shared how the Gen Z children of big-name celebrities such as Steve Harvey, Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, and Madonna have sought to create their own fame through their fashion choices. Children of celebrities often have to work hard to leave their parents’ shadows, and in the age of social media, that means a lot of posts, tweets, snaps, and videos. None of that may shock you. Members of Gen Z are on their phones and other electronic devices watching videos, viewing posts, and commenting on and discussing the ones they like and don’t like. Why wouldn’t Gen Z celebrities’ main avenue for bolstering their fame be their social media accounts? Still, that phenomenon has downsides. The pressure of fame has been exacerbated by social media, especially among minors. Today, one of the most popular answers to the question “What do you want to be when you
grow up?” among children ages 7–14 is to be an influencer, a comedian, a vlogger, or an entertainer. As more young people make money (some enough to live quite lavishly) by posting pictures and videos online, more of their viewers aspire to do the same without understanding the pressures or consequences that can come with that lifestyle. The more public you make your life, the more public your mistakes and flaws become along with it. Just as many children of celebrities are starting to come into their own fame, many other celebrities have kept their children out of social media, at least until they themselves consent to be on it. Celebrities like Ryan Gosling, Ashton Kutcher, and Adele understand better than most the pitfalls of a social media presence, especially when famous, which is why they’ve all elected to keep their kids off it for as long as they can. Perhaps many other parents and children would do well to follow suit. In a world where avenues to becoming famous are multiplying online, it’s best to understand the pressures of internet fame before pursuing it.
SEE YOUR STUDENT PERFORM AT SUNDIN MUSIC HALL INDOOR CONCERTS ARE BACK!
As much as we love watching our MnSOM students perform outdoors in the sunshine, there’s nothing quite like the perfect acoustics of an indoor concert hall. That’s why we’re excited to announce that this October we’ll once again host indoor performances at Sundin Music Hall on the campus of Hamline University in St. Paul! MnSOM has held events at Sundin Music Hall since 2017. Lyra Baroque, The Minnesota Guitar Society, and The Bach Society of Minnesota have all played there. It’s a cozy, intimate venue with 325 seats, and every one of them has a great view of the stage. Our last concert at Sundin Music Hall took place on March 1, 2020, and we’re thrilled to finally be back after a long COVID-19 hiatus. It will feel like coming home! Our official return to the indoor concert stage is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 10. Our Bravo Concert Series will include performances at 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., and 5:00 p.m.
audience! Registration is open to all students and will run from Monday, Aug. 30, through Friday, Sept. 17. To register, simply talk to your child’s teacher and stop by the front desk. We’ll take it from there!
We would love to have your student join us on stage for the Bravo Concert Series and to see you smiling from the
2 • www.mnschoolofmusic.com
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