People’s fascination with celebrities is ancient, and in the Internet age, this fascination has only increased. influencerOften online content creators, they blur the definition of “celebrity” and our relationship to them.
While influencers may appear to be friends with their followers because of how they interact with their followers online, this is most likely not the case. Instead, these relationships are quasi-social—one-sided. But what exactly are parasocial relationships?
Influencers aren’t going anywhere. So what does this mean for today’s teens?
What is a parasocial relationship?
Natalie Pennington, assistant professor of communication studies at Colorado State University, said a parasocial relationship is a one-sided relationship, usually with an everyday individual, a celebrity or a fictional character.
Noah Mallin, chief strategist at media technology company IMGN Media, said a parasocial relationship is a presumed intimacy that viewers feel even if they have no actual relationship with the person.
These relationships existed long before the advent of the Internet—thousands of years ago.Researchers say ancient people had Parasocial relationship with Pharaoh For example, gods.
In the 20th century, early studies of parasocial relationships dissected relationships between people. soap opera character and other fictional television characters. “People will watch a TV show and really get involved and feel like they have a relationship with…some of the main characters on the show,” Pennington said. “So even though they may never meet, they’ll say, ‘This person They’re my friends. I know them.'”
“Even though they may never meet, they say, ‘This person is my friend. I know them.'”
As media and technology evolve, so do parasocial relationships. With the rise of the internet and social media over the past few decades, celebrities have revealed more about themselves online, allowing fans to learn more. As fans learn more about the celebrity, this previously impossible knowledge makes these relationships feel real. However, this is still one-sided as the celebrity may not know who the fans are.
Examples of parasocial relationships
in a A study on the interaction between fans and celebrities on Twitter Pennington collaborated with Professor Jeffrey A. Hall and researcher Alex Hutchinson on a paper published in 2016. The author discussed the “illusion of intimacy” that social media interactions bring to fans when celebrities interact. “Likes” or reposts from celebrities not only enhance one’s social status, but also represent a level of intimacy with the celebrity.
Nowadays, even the definition of “celebrity” has become blurred due to the rise of social media and especially influencers, who blur the para-society even more due to increased interaction and the idea that influencers are just “normal people” like you boundaries.
Social media blurs the lines of parasocial relationships because of participation. Pennington noted that the numbers have only increased since that study, especially for TikTok. Talking about the stitching feature that combines videos, she said, “TikTok’s stitching feature, for example… it blurs the lines of quasi-social because someone might actually respond to you, and then you feel more connected.
Will Instagram ban LGBTQ and sex education accounts?
The rise of YouTube video blogs has had an impact on modern parasocial relationships, Marin said. Video bloggers talk directly to the camera about specific personal issues they are dealing with (something not common in previous forms of media), as if they were talking to a friend. Nowadays, it’s common for influencers to look directly at you in videos. Even though a lot of work went into the film behind the scenes, there’s still a level of authenticity to it.
Influencers not only look at you, but they interact with you—sometimes instantly. “It feels like you have more access and ability to interact,” Marin said. “A good creator reads comments and responds to them.”
Commenting back and forth can make it feel like you’re having a conversation with the influencer (even if it’s their team rather than them responding). This helps develop a sense that ‘this is a real person,’ Marin said, “but it can also develop a feeling that, ‘not only is this a real person, but we actually have a relationship with each other.’ ” , you don’t know, though.
Mix and match after dark
“again, [this is] In most cases, it’s still not a bilateral relationship,” Pennington said. “But because there is an additional level of interaction or potential [interaction]it can strengthen your connection with someone.
How do parasocial relationships form and end?
Parasocial relationships arise from parasocial interactions (PSI). PSI is the process of interacting with a celebrity or influencer. You watch their content and maybe even contact them. You may be connected to them in some way; maybe their identity aligns with yours, maybe you share similar attitudes.
Parasocial relationships may form, but they may also end. The most morbid scenario is the death of a public figure, but that’s not the only way.
One way is that, as Marin said, “the bubble has burst.” This is especially true for influencers, when their notoriety reaches a level where they no longer “feel real.” Maybe their following reaches millions and they’ve entered the mainstream. “Once you feel like they’re not just talking to you anymore … you start to feel like it’s not a relationship anymore,” Marin said.
This may also be the case if an influencer starts doing too many sponsorships that feel inconsistent with who they are (or at least who their fans think they are). “It started to feel less real,” Marin said.
Or maybe the influencer starts with a niche that resonates with you, and then they evolve and move on. In this way, the end of a parasocial relationship can feel like a friendship growing apart.
This doesn’t happen to all fans, but parasocial relationships can fail when the illusion of intimacy is broken in some way.
Are parasocial relationships healthy?
The simple answer is yes – but like most things, it’s best in moderation.
In the U.S., people are pretty lonely, and the pandemic is exacerbating it “Loneliness Epidemic”. people have Fewer close friends There are more now than there were decades ago. At the same time, Pennington said, humans have an innate need to belong, and therefore need connection, and when we don’t have that need, we seek connection. Humans have evolved these needs over millions of years because we need to be part of a group to survive. While this is no longer necessarily the case, we are still social creatures who thrive with others.
So it makes sense that people seek connections online through celebrities and influencers. Parasocial relationships are perfectly fine as long as they’re not the only relationships in your life. When you interact with your favorite online characters, you may get a “boost” of a good feeling of connection – a hit of the feel-good chemical dopamine, which is a positive.
But if that’s the only way you connect—or if you think your parasocial relationship is actually two-sided—that’s when they can become problematic.
“We need people in our lives that we talk to positively to help with our well-being, whether it’s loneliness, self-esteem, belonging, connection, all of those things,” Pennington said.
Pennington continued, “There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a creator’s content in any capacity and appreciating the work they do and enjoying the immediate joy they bring.” Setting expectations for celebrities, however, is not a good idea. “It’s OK to tweet and say ‘Hi,’ but don’t expect or expect a response,” Pennington said.
Additionally, Marin said parasocial relationships can cross the line and become toxic, especially when the influencer/celebrity has a marginalized identity. “Parasocial relationships can feel quite benign,” he said, “but for certain groups, sometimes they can be a little sinister.”
For example, during the worst period of the epidemic, Influencers speak of increased harassment.Abuse can escalate from online to offline, e.g. Twitch “fans” track anchors. In these ways, blurring the lines of interaction can be harmful.
When interacting with influencers/celebrities, it’s important to remember that the relationship is truly one-sided. It’s okay to love a celebrity but maintain an emotional and physical distance.
This article was first published in 2022 and republished in 2024.
