Ad spotlight too harsh for some child performers?<\/p>\n
By Gedsiri Suhartono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Parents, pumped with pride at seeing their
\nchildren in advertisements, may not be willing to recognize the
\npotential dangers of exposing them to the spotlight.<\/p>\n
But educators and children's rights activists warn parents
\nagainst the temptation to commercialize their children for short-
\nterm benefits, which are outweighed by the potential for long-
\nterm psychological damage.<\/p>\n
It may seem alluring, but showbusiness is not a child-friendly
\nenvironment. It demands discipline, tenacity, hard work and long
\nhours that are not deemed suitable for any child's well-being.<\/p>\n
\"They would mostly be hanging out with adults, and therefore
\nrun the risk of living in a different world than their own.
\nChildren should interact with other children in their natural
\nenvironment,\" said Yaumil Agus Achir, professor of developmental
\npsychology at the University of Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Having entered the workforce, a child performer would, among
\nother demands, have to modify his or her activities for work
\nresponsibilities. In the process, undoubtedly they would lose
\ncountless hours of sleep, play or study to adhere to the strict
\nshooting schedule.<\/p>\n
In an ideal world, Yaumil contends that children should not be
\nearning any income at all because part of childhood means being
\nguided and preparing to be a hard worker and responsible adult.<\/p>\n
Among other compelling reasons parents put their children up
\nto seeking fame and fortune through advertising is to earn extra
\nmoney to fill the family's coffers.<\/p>\n
Educators and children's rights activists alike say that most
\nparents do not realize that by doing so they have deprived their
\nchildren of their rights, and perpetrated the exploitation of
\ntheir own children without fully knowing the consequences.<\/p>\n
Deputy chairman of the National Commission of Children's
\nRights Irwanto doubts if former child performers will be able to
\ncontinue their lives as other normal children. Holistic
\ndevelopment of emotional, psychological, educational aptitude and
\npersonality would have to succumb to stringent measures of
\nworking at a young age.<\/p>\n
Public exposure can severely interfere with children's
\ndevelopment. Child celebrities who are used to receiving
\nexcessive attention can crave the lack of it later on; this is
\namong the unhealthy signs of the development process on a child's
\nego and self-confidence.<\/p>\n
Once their confidence bubble has fully extended, these
\nchildren tend to be excessively self-centered, narcissistic and
\nvain. In other words, they may not be best equipped to enter
\nadulthood.<\/p>\n
Once the charming child outgrows its adorability, so
\nevaporates the core of vanity. Most famous children do not
\ncontinue to enjoy their fame once they enter adolescence let
\nalone adulthood.<\/p>\n
Such negligence evoke a sense of loss, which very likely will
\nlead to symptoms similar to postpower syndrome but at a very
\nyoung age.<\/p>\n
\"Whatever happened to Chicha Koeswoyo, or Iyut Bing Slamet? I
\nhave not heard any mention of their fame,\" says Irwanto,
\nreferring to two famous child singers of the 1970s.<\/p>\n
According to Irwanto, the advertising industry knows exactly
\nwhat moves the market. Cute, innocent faces rate highly in
\ninfluencing consumers to purchase particular products.<\/p>\n
Children's nondiscriminatory nature plays a big role in
\ninfluencing their parents' decision-making process. From the
\nrecipient point of view, children, nondiscriminatory consumers,
\nare not trained to consume only the \"good things\".<\/p>\n
Instead, children are easily lured by new items that catch
\ntheir attention, better yet goods, which come along with rewards.<\/p>\n
There are increasing number of ads using children which bear
\nno relevance to children's needs and scope.<\/p>\n
\"I cringe when I hear consumer-oriented messages coming from a
\nchild's supposedly innocent mouth. It just doesn't feel right,\"
\nsays Ibu Kasur, an educator who operates several preschools.<\/p>\n
Some have called for more controls on the advertising
\nindustry. Some would go as far as banning children from taking
\npart in advertising altogether.<\/p>\n
Ibu Kasur, who used to appear on TVRI's educational programs,
\ntakes a firm stance of saying \"no\" altogether to children in
\nadvertising.<\/p>\n
\"Education should be a priority. Parents should know better
\nthan teaching their child to neglect education. I do not believe
\nit for a second when parents say that shooting ads does not
\ninterfere with school schedule. Let children grow as they would,
\nplease don't turn them into a mouthpiece for commodities.\"<\/p>\n
When all is said and done, where would the discussion go if
\nthe subject of the exploitation is not even aware of being
\nexploited? The moralistic approach seems ever more futile
\nprecisely because nowhere is there any legal document which
\nsuccinctly defines exploitation.<\/p>\n
Critics have pitched in and said the circumstances should fit
\nindividual cases. Irwanto, however, believes that there is a
\ndefinite line to define what is appropriate.<\/p>\n
Economic considerations are perhaps the most obvious
\nmeasurement.<\/p>\n
\"It is easy to justify the seemingly harmless sacrifices
\nrequired of a child at the present state. However, what has yet
\nto be discovered are the social and emotional disturbances in the
\nchildren's later life that will prove how the two do not go
\ntogether. It is just not comparable because the degree of
\nseverity is indefinite,\" Irwanto said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ad-spotlight-too-harsh-for-some-child-performers-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}