| My lauve space |

𝘗𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘴 :(

Hellooo my Lauves.

Let's get straight to the point. Have you ever felt like you had a close relationship with your favorite singer, actor/actress, or even with a random social media influencer?

You might wonder why I am asking this question, but this is something that keeps popping into my mind. Why do so many people on planet Earth feel like they are close to their favorite celebrities? They follow their every move, like all their Instagram posts, and watch all their TikTok lives.

This type of behavior is pretty common nowadays with the rise of social media platforms, and it can be seen as normal to follow and know everything about your favorite celebrity or influencer. However, this phenomenon is way deeper than what you can imagine.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to:

"The parasocial relationship."

According to the website findapsychologist.com ;

"Parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships, where one person extends emotional energy, interest, and time, and the other party, the persona, is completely unaware of the other's existence. Parasocial relationships are most common with celebrities or television stars."

However, we can actually discuss how parasocial relationships between celebrities/media figures and fans have changed over time. Now, your favorite celebrity can tell you everything about their lives with an Instagram story, a post on X, or even a live on TikTok. You can know their every move, what they like, what they don't like, see them eat, see them poop, and more. And guess what? You can even interact with them, even though they don't know you, thanks to the great invention called "the comment section." Insane, right? I know.

But did you know that it can actually have a negative effect on our lives and even on our brain? No? Then let me tell you why!

Parasocial relationships can interfere with the development and maintenance of genuine interpersonal connections. In fact, when individuals invest excessive time and emotional energy into these one-sided relationships, they may neglect real-life social interaction, struggle to form or maintain authentic relationships, and also experience increased feelings of loneliness and social isolation.

Since these relationships are not reciprocal, individuals may feel emotionally fulfilled in a superficial way but not experience the deep, mutual connection that comes from genuine human interactions. As a result, they might struggle to form or maintain authentic relationships with family, friends, or peers. Over time, their emotional reliance on these one-sided connections can erode the desire or motivation to invest in real-world relationships, which require vulnerability, effort, and mutual understanding.

Furthermore, it's all about marketing!

Parasocial relationships play a significant role in modern marketing strategies, particularly in influencer marketing and social media campaigns. Here's how they are connected :

Parasocial relationships increase consumer engagement with brands and influencers. Followers and fans are more likely to interact with content from public figures they feel connected to. This engagement can lead to increased brand awareness and loyalty toward their favorite celebrities.

They can also push the consumer to overconsume what their favorite celebrities are consuming. Because you feel like you know them, everything they recommend might seem good and harmless, right? And wouldn't it be nice to have the same bag as your favorite influencer, eat at the same restaurant as your favorite singer, or even buy the same furniture as your favorite K-drama actor?

By understanding and leveraging parasocial relationships, marketers can create more personal, engaging, and effective campaigns that resonate with consumers on an emotional level. And I'm not judging them for that. A company's main goal is to make money, so I'm not surprised.

Indeed, I think it is important to raise awareness about the reality of parasocial relationships and how they can negatively impact our lives. On the other hand, I do believe that parasocial relationships (when not taken too seriously) can actually help people enjoy their free time, for example by watching lives or checking out their favorite celebrities' wardrobes.

Your turn, what do you think about para social relationships ?

♥♥♥