Parents who make their children famous at a young age: "Even adults are scared, let alone children."

The children didn't know they were famous.

Recently, netizens have been debating many issues surrounding Pam (born in 2022) - a famous social media phenomenon - being allowed by her parents to participate in commercials and attend crowded, noisy, and bustling programs and events.

Little Pam burst into tears and kept asking to go home while attending an event at a shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City (Image taken from a video clip).

Accordingly, Pam attended an event at a shopping mall in Ho Chi Minh City. At this event, many people flocked to see and take pictures of the "child idol" who is currently gaining attention on social media.

However, due to the large crowd, Pam burst into tears as soon as she stepped out. It took a while for her parents to calm her down. Throughout the event, despite trying to interact with the audience as instructed by her parents, Pam couldn't hide her bewilderment and shyness, and kept asking to go home.

As she left, the crowd continued to surround her, and some people even touched Pam, but she just looked bewildered, not understanding why.

Notably, after the event ended, the female MC was criticized online for allegedly being the reason Pam burst into tears. The MC then took to social media to explain herself and sobbed uncontrollably in response to the online attacks.

This isn't the first time Pam has attended a crowded event (Photo: Salim).

Following this incident, many people questioned: "Is allowing such a young child to participate in crowded events and become famous at an early age negatively impacting their psychology?"

Pam isn't the only one; on social media, many "child idols" have their image built by their parents from a young age or pursue fame in the style of family KOLs or KOFs (families with a large following on social media, who regularly share about their daily lives and have influence in the community).

While many KOFs (Kids of the Year) families try to limit their children's public appearances as much as possible, some families still regularly allow their children to participate in crowded events with cameras and spotlights shining directly on their faces.

Let children be left in peace to be… children.

According to Mr. Le Anh Tu, Lecturer in Public Relations - Communication at Van Lang University, parents need to consider and be extremely cautious in deciding whether to let their children become celebrities and appear frequently in public at a very young age.

"This somewhat affects the child's psychology. Because even adults feel scared and anxious when standing in front of a camera and a noisy crowd, let alone a child who is only 2 years old."

Nowadays, many organizations advise against posting photos of children on social media (Illustrative image: ST).

For example, a presenter, if they want to speak well in front of the camera, needs months or even years of practice to overcome their fear and gain confidence. Forcing a child who is only 2 or 3 years old to be cheerful and interact in front of a crowd is very difficult; few children are confident enough to do that," Mr. Tú said.

Mr. Tú suggested that parents should only film their children themselves or have a team film them privately and remotely, avoiding bringing them to events with too many people.

According to psychologist Hong Huong, who works at the Library of the Vietnam Association for the Protection of Children's Rights, if this is not the first time a child has been frightened, anxious, or cried at a crowded event, parents should consider and immediately stop taking their child to similar events.

If parents allow their children to become mere tools for interaction, forgetting that they are children and causing them discomfort, they will inadvertently violate laws regarding children's rights.

"Let a child be a real child. If parents only take photos and videos of their child to create a social media channel to preserve memories, that's fine. But once a child becomes famous, they are inevitably exploited and harassed by malicious individuals," the expert said.

From a psychological perspective, if a child is constantly seen as "an outstanding and famous child," surrounded and receiving attention wherever they go, they may, in the long run, develop "star syndrome."

Children may think, "I'm the best." However, once they no longer receive attention, they will experience psychological distress.

"Furthermore, when becoming an influential figure in the community, not only the child but anyone will have to maintain a perfect public image. This restricts personal freedom, forcing children to live according to the standards imposed on them by others," Ms. Hong Huong explained.

In the case of children who have become famous, the expert advises that parents need to be mindful and not become complacent or treat their children as mere tools for making money. Parents must allow their children to retain their innocence.

In addition, parents need the support of psychologists and educators to guide their children and seek advice on child protection laws. This ensures that children are protected, develop in the right direction, risks are managed, and parents avoid violating the law.

"Every parent loves their child unconditionally, with both their mind and heart. They don't really want to use their child as a tool for making money. They may only think about the good things that fame brings to their child, but forget to consider the downsides. If parents know how to control and manage the risks, there will be no problems for the child's development," the expert shared.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/an-sinh/ba-me-cho-con-noi-tieng-tu-som-nguoi-lon-con-so-huong-chi-con-nit-20240926123158222.htm