
When celebrities replace mentors: How American pop culture is shaping student identity worldwide
In classrooms and college dorms across the world, students are turning to a new kind of mentor: not teachers, not parents, but celebrities. Whether it’s Taylor Swift’s poetic vulnerability, Billie Eilish’s emotional honesty, or YouTubers like MrBeast modelling philanthropy, American pop culture figures have taken on a role once reserved for real-life guides. For Gen…