China bans celebrities’ children from TV
Print Edition
REALITY shows featuring the children of celebrities have been banned from China’s TV screens, the media regulator has announced.
The participation of minors in reality shows must be “strictly controlled,” the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television said in its ruling.
The ban follows a similar move last July that limited the participation of minors in TV reality shows.
Among the programs canceled is the popular “Dad! Where Are We Going?” Since it hit Chinese TV screens in 2013, more programs featuring the offspring of celebrities followed, catapulting these children to overnight fame.
Now stars in their own right, the youngsters were quickly snapped up by firms to promote their products and activities. While many of them enjoyed the opportunities brought about by their new-found fame, many professionals were concerned at the negative effects the experience could be having on their mental and physical wellbeing.
The regulator said that removing minors from the spotlight would let them enjoy the childhoods they are entitled to.
In the past, celebrities strived to protect their children from the public gaze, but things changed with the coming of reality shows. This kind of show may satisfy the audience’s curiosity about the lives of celebrities, said Ma Xiaoyan, of Shandong Normal University’s school of communication, but being famous is a double-edged sword, especially for children.
Being “on show” at a very early age can influence their behavior, and while this may result in “TV gold,” it is at the expense of the children themselves.
Becoming a child star can be extremely harmful, especially if the pursuit of fame is driven by their parents’ desire rather than a conscious decision by the children themselves, said child psychologist Hou Lixia.
An era ‘characterized by big money’
Reality TV shows are big business in China. Last year, more than 100 entertainment programs were broadcast on TV channels nationwide, generating over 10 billion yuan (US$1.55 billion) in advertising revenue. Many of these shows starred minors.
When “Dad! Where Are We Going?” exploded on screens, so did investment in the TV sector.
“It was the beginning of a new era in TV characterized by big money,” said Wu Wenbo, of the Communication University of China.
Wu said top stars could take home paychecks of millions of yuan, just for one show. In some cases, celebrity children helped their parents’ careers, elevating them from unknowns to A-list stars.
Zhang Liang, a model participating in the first season of “Dad! Where Are We Going?” saw his appearance fee increased 10-fold in the two months following his debut on the show.
Keen to get more bang for their buck, TV stations and production companies were quick to make more shows like it.
They signed celebrities and their offspring and began to churn out shows in this new winning format.
“The sad reality is that as a result many celebrity children are being exploited as commodities,” said Ma.
When the regulator limited the participation of minors in reality TV shows last year, it said: “In a few reality shows, we have seen the commercialization and adultification of minors — this must be addressed.”
In its latest circular, however, it has decided that enough is enough and issued an outright ban. In addition, China’s revised law on advertising, which came into effect last September, mandates that children under the age of 10 cannot be seen to endorse any kind of products.
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