Children have starkly different heroes to their parents and are more likely to admire climate activist Greta Thunberg or rapper Stormzy than Spider-Man or Madonna, research suggests.
A survey of 1,000 parents found that the number of five to 16-year-olds wanting to emulate a musician or an actor had fallen by 14% since their own childhoods.
The most popular heroes of the parents’ earlier years included footballer David Beckham, the Spice Girls, Wonder Woman and Batman, said family activity app Hoop.
Now, youngsters are more likely to look up to YouTubers and activists, according to the report.
Max Jennings, of Hoop, said: “The UK has transformed dramatically in a single generation and this has impacted who kids now view as ‘heroes’ and why.
“Not only is today’s list more diverse, it shows how issues and new technologies that under-16s come into contact with on a daily basis can impact their future.
“The role of YouTube and social media in children’s lives, as well as the powerful and influential voices that are driving climate change, are having a big impact.
“Having a positive role model can inspire children to follow their dreams and become successful in their own right.”
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