To define it in simple terms, “parasocial relationships” are one-sided relationships where one side is significantly invested and the other side is unaware of the other’s existence. With the rise of social media where we are able to get updates on our favorite celebrities with the touch of a finger, parasocial relationships are easier to develop than ever. However, as fun as it is to keep up with our favorite celebrities, spend paychecks to attend events, and feel like we genuinely know the person on the other side of the screen, parasocial relationships, and their increasing commonality, are inherently dangerous.
Parasocial relationships give us a faux sense of interaction, making real connections even more impossible. If we start using these parasocial relationships to cover for the real social interactions we require, they can lead to anxiety and loneliness. So if we are too focused on keeping updated on our favorite celebs or prioritize watching their Instagram lives rather than hanging out with our friends, we are isolating ourselves from the human interactions that actually matter. While on one side viewers are obsessing over making sure they don’t miss any new information, celebrities are mainly unaware of who their fans even are.
Parasocial relationships blur the lines between reality and fantasy. While we may feel that there is a real connection with the person on the other side of the screen, this is largely one-sided. As fans, we tend to believe that we know the celebrities we praise; however, we know what they want us to know. Our perception of celebrities is created off the information they release about themselves and interviews that are planned out well in advance, meaning we are praising someone who we do not know the full truth about. Furthermore, celebrities live in some type of dystopian society that is so far disconnected from the reality that we know. Their lives create a false reality, something that we all look to have one day. But unfortunately, the truth behind that is that their normal is nothing close to what we consider normal. These parasocial relationships lead us to compare ourselves with someone who we are not even in comparable situations with.
This is your reminder that even though you may care about a celebrity and they may have put out messages on how much they love their fans, these are put out for mass audiences, not one specific person. It’s important to prioritize your relationships in real life and focus on the bonds you create with the people around you. Remember that what we know about them is a tiny fraction of who they are as a person, and their lives are so immensely different from ours. This isn’t my way of stopping you from enjoying your favorite music and movies but just a reminder that there is more to life beyond the figures we follow on social media.