Abstract

With the rapid development of social media, the phenomenon of celebrity worship has become increasingly prominent in Chinese celebrity culture. This study adopts a qualitative research method to delve into the potential negative impact of celebrity worship on social behavior and cultural phenomena, as well as the relatively under-researched nature of this issue in Chinese society. The study finds that celebrity worship has a powerful influence and impact on young fans in social media and may bring about a series of problems that cannot be ignored. Currently, Chinese younger generations often interact with their idols through social media, making the admiration more personalized and direct. However, behind this intimate connection lie some negative side effects. Celebrity worship may lead individuals to overparticipate in the virtual world, weakening the connection with real-world interactions. Fans may lose themselves in following their idols and become overly dependent on what they say and do to define their own value and identity. Despite the profound impact of celebrity worship on individual psychology and behavior, little attention has been paid to this issue in China. This study aims to fill the gaps in existing research by digging deeper into the impact of the phenomenon of celebrity worship and advocating for a more comprehensive and in-depth study of this issue. By better understanding the negative mechanisms of celebrity worship, we can make society and families aware of the younger generation’s worship behavior and prompt the youth to interact in social media in a more rational and healthy way.