THE WARREN-WATCHUNG CONNECTION PAGE 56 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2025 theconnectionsnj.com We invite you to Stay Connected to all things local! Instant access... anytime, anywhere! Right to your inbox 5 times a year Cover Artwork By Andrea Giordano HOLIDAY CHEER Festive Inspirations for Gifting and Dining HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Local Holiday Happenings FAMILY ADVENTURES Lighting Up Your Holidays PLAY TO WIN Details on page 6! NOV 2024-JAN 2025 Bernards-Ridge Edition Bernardsville, Basking Ridge, Bedminster, Mendham, Far Hills, Peapack/Gladstone, Chester, Morristown Cover Artwork By Ivey Kampouris HOLIDAY CHEER Festive Inspirations for Gifting and Dining HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Local Holiday Happenings UNDER THE HOOD Winterize Your Worries Away PLAY TO WIN Details on page 6! NOV 2024-JAN 2025 VOLUME XCIX Warren-Watchung Edition Warren, Watchung, Martinsville, Stirling, Millington, Gillette, Green Brook, Basking Ridge, Berkeley Heights, New Providence Cover Artwork By Susan Rupert HOLIDAY CHEER Festive Inspirations for Gifting and Dining HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS Local Holiday Happenings FOOD FOR THOUGHT A Guide to Surviving the Holidays PLAY TO WIN Details on page 6! NOV 2024-JAN 2025 Bridgewater, Branchburg, Hillsborough, Martinsville, Somerville Bridgewater-Somerville Edition he digital, online, social media world has magnified the competitive nature of people. Keeping up with the neighbors is now expanded by 24/7 exposure to influencers, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and numerous other social media platforms. Both adults and kids are captivated by these influencers with hours of exposure to products, medical advice, lifestyles, luxury, remedies to the economy, and everything else under the sun. As much as they seem to impact behavior and societal culture, most influencers do not have educational degrees, training, or qualifications for whatever it is they are peddling. Yet the psychological process of desensitization through constant and frequent exposure can affect the viewer in terms of self-esteem, body image, aspirations, and how to treat others. Developmentally, kids are constantly trying to formulate their own identity. Historically, identity traits have been inculcated through family members, peers, athletes, and media icons. Fantasy goals such as, “I want to be an NFL player, a movie or rock star,” were almost always unrealistic. Their exposure to people with fame and wealth was intermittent, at best. Today’s youth are bombarded with influencers and social media role models making gobs of money peddling their goods, ideas, and lifestyles that are glamorous and extremely attractive. At least with sports and entertainment icons, there is a sense of the need for preparation, education, training, and work ethic to obtain fortune and fame. The only training social media influencers possess is their natural ability to speak with authority and persuasiveness. Their constant and viral exposure to the public creates a society of wanna-be’s in both kids and adults. This kind of exposure does not have to be negative. Influencers can be positive role models with positive messages promoting family values, lifestyles, positive self-esteem, positive relationships, and inclusiveness. Unfortunately, many kids and adults are more attracted to and intrigued by the negative, edgy, and provocative material. It is not unlike the attraction of staring at a car crash or building fire that makes it difficult to look away. The impressionable, eager, identity-seeking youngster believes that to fit in socially they must follow and adopt influencer values as a necessary social tool. Some messages, however, promote inappropriate and unhealthy behaviors. Inaccurate information can lead to eating disorders, improper medical diagnoses and advice, and a myriad of personal and social beliefs that can result in health and even legal difficulties. Yet the pressure to use promoted products and mimic influencers’ lifestyles make it feel imperative to keep up with social trends. Unfortunately, the influencer’s success can also cause some to lose respect for education because it is not necessary to make millions of dollars to become a YouTuber. Parents need to monitor their child’s online behavior and maintain an open dialogue to help develop evaluative, critical thinking skills. Viewing with your child and teaching them how to ask challenging questions instead of merely accepting what is presented as truth is invaluable. Dr. Michael Osit is a Licensed Psychologist practicing in Warren, and author of The Train Keeps Leaving Without Me: A Guide to Happiness, Freedom, and Self Fulfillment (2016), and Generation Text: Raising Well Adjusted Kids In An Age Of Instant Everything (2008) MIND THE MIND Keeping Up With The Jones’s: 21st Century Style By Dr. Michael Osit The only training social media influencers possess is their natural ability to speak with authority and persuasiveness. Their constant and viral exposure to the public creates a society of wanna-be’s in both kids and adults. T
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