The essence of idolatry is to give the first place in our thoughts, affections, and decision-making process to anyone (or anything) other than God. It doesn’t matter whether the thing idolized is officially called a “god” or not. It’s the regard we have for it (and thus the influence it has over us) that matters. Whatever (or whoever) is loved, feared, trusted in, or obeyed more than God has, in effect, become an idol to us.