I'm beginning to get a little cynical about social networking sites, however I do have to admit I quite like the sound of BBC3's new project - a show based around social networking, hosted by Lily Allen, and contributed to by her MySpace friends.
Lily Allen rose to fame as a result of the site, and her revealing blogs have shown her to be an approachable and realistic role model for youngsters.
The straight-laced traditionalist in me does quite like a good role model.
As the Ofcom report into Chilren's TV highlighted a few weeks ago, a worrying number of children aspire to be the people they see on TV.
Whilst we can try to tackle this idolistic trend by better educating children as to who to look to as role models, another way to stem it is at the source.
If producers look more carefully at the role models they are providing for children, then hopefully even if children do continue to idolise tv personalities, they will be aspiring to mimic positive traits.
Lily Allen is independent, talented and real.
She appears to eat like a normal person, is not overly concerned with her appearance, and is not photographed drinking, or smoking.
She doesn't promote drugs, and has remarkably appears to have carved herself a successful career without abusing her father's fame.
She also sings and speaks about things which teenagers can understand and empathise with.
Admittedly my straight-laced nature would perhaps prefer her to be a little more well-spoken, and a little more geeky!, howeve, kids like her, a fact which the popularity of her MySpace page has starkly proven.
To build on this success, and use it to enable children to contribute to a show is a great way to improve the multifaceted nature of today's media, and hopefully the BBC will put this popularity to good use.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I am really enjoying your blog, from the United States. I will look for Lily Allen immediately, though I wonder if you can post the link on your blog sites as well in the future?
We'd have much to talk about if ever, I follow Prix Jeunesse and the World Summits on Children's Television as ways to see programs of quality for children, examples of which I find rare and difficult to find here in the US.
Pertaining to some of your other postings: I've
always been so impressed with GB's provision of children's television, so very sorry to hear it's become so hard there, as well.
As a producer of children's media, primarily television, I share your concerns and hopes for children's media, and am working here in my own small way to try and make a difference for kids. Thanks for your blog - it's great.
Post a Comment