Parasocial interactions occur when people feel a connection to celebrities, internet influencers, or fictitious characters that isn’t mutual. These kinds of relationships are defined by the experience of being emotionally attached to someone you don’t know in real life. Understanding parasocial relationships shows why these things happen a lot, and the Covid-19 pandemic made them even bigger. Many said parasocial ties helped them stay connected during the pandemic, but sometimes they could be harmful.
It’s normal to form ties with people we see often. It’s even more likely now that people divulge details about their lives and talk to their admirers online. People may feel like they know influencers because they are always available. Also, some famous people on the internet try to get their supporters to interact with them in a parasocial way. They introduce themselves as friends at the start of the videos or give personal information to make the viewer feel closer. As a result, fans will be more inclined to stay active and buy more of their goods and content in the future.
Handling
Not all parasocial contacts are bad. They can be as small as how happy you are when your favorite sports player wins an award or when an actress you like gets a big part. It’s good for your health to feel this way. A lot of parasocial partnerships aren’t bad. But the person in a parasocial relationship could forget that they have never met the other person in person. She can now start to think of this as a real relationship. This danger affects kids more than adults because kids are more likely to be influenced by things.
When people spend too much time and energy on parasocial interactions, they put their real-life relationships at danger. If people think they are already in touch with a celebrity, they might not spend as much effort on their real-life relationships. Because of this, they can cease talking to their friends and say no to invites. They might even give up on meeting new people. As a result, their social skills may suffer and they may even grow apart. Putting too many feelings on a stranger might cause emotional pain. A famous person or influencer might act strangely, stop shooting, or die. Because of these big changes, young people’s mental health could go worse.
Increased screen time
When someone has a parasocial relationship with an influencer, they may start to agree with what they say. If the influencer starts to support bad or objectionable beliefs, it could be dangerous. The person’s feelings toward the influencer will make him or her think these things. The people who have power in the manosphere are examples of this kind of power. People who use the internet are often drawn to influencers like Andrew Tate because of their films that highlight their private life, their excursions in nice cars, and their time spent in beautiful places.
These thought influencers may then easily spread misogynistic views. Because of this, followers will be more likely to agree with these detrimental ideas. A lot of famous people and influencers show their best lives to their fans on social media. They mainly post pictures of travels or parties, which makes it look like they’re having a fantastic time. They can also change their pictures to get rid of flaws or share pictures of themselves that look ideal. So, if you have a parasocial interaction with these kinds of influencers, you might lose self-esteem.
How to keep children safe
He doesn’t understand why his life is so boring or why he is so ugly compared to someone he is dating. He would also start to have a bad body image, which might lead to an eating issue. If an influencer knows that their followers have created parasocial relationships with them, they may leverage it. He can start selling a product with the idea that all of his real followers will buy it. This could make his fans buy more than they can afford.- Kids, especially those who are neurodivergent, are at a higher risk because they might not notice manipulation soon away.
If someone has a parasocial relationship, they might spend more time on their gadget. Kids could also assume they have to keep the relationship going if they observe something. So, if they don’t watch their content, they could feel FOMO and other bad things that affect their health. Not all parasocial relationships are bad. But if you suspect your youngster is just in love with a celebrity or influencer, you can find some safety recommendations below.
Conclusion
It’s normal to form ties with people we see often. It’s even more likely now that people divulge details about their lives and talk to their admirers online. People may feel like they know influencers because they are always available. Also, some famous people on the internet try to get their supporters to interact with them in a parasocial way. They introduce themselves as friends at the start of the videos or give personal information to make the viewer feel closer. As a result, fans will be more inclined to stay active and buy more of their goods and content in the future.
When people spend too much time and energy on parasocial interactions, they put their real-life relationships at danger. If people think they are already in touch with a celebrity, they might not spend as much effort on their real-life relationships. Because of this, they can cease talking to their friends and say no to invites. They might even give up on meeting new people. As a result, their social skills may suffer and they may even grow apart. Putting too many feelings on a stranger might cause emotional pain. A famous person or influencer might act strangely, stop shooting, or die. Because of these big changes, young people’s mental health could go worse.