Do parasocial relationships fill a loneliness gap?
Following celebrities on social media or being a fan of fictional characters can be enjoyable –– though one-sided, these relationships offer a sense of connection. But parasocial relationships also have downsides, especially when people rely on them too much.
Do you follow certain social media creators, music artists, actors, athletes, or other famous people? Are you a huge fan of particular fictional characters from a book, TV show, or movie? Perhaps you check in with them daily because you feel a connection, care about them, or just love keeping up with the minutiae of their lives.
These one-sided emotional ties to people you don't actually know (or those who don't actually exist) are called parasocial relationships. Like all relationships, they come with risks and benefits, says Arthur C. Brooks, a social scientist, best-selling author, and professor at both the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School.
Why do we develop parasocial relationships?
Parasocial relationships tend to occur because of our natural tendency to link to others.
"Humans have evolved to thrive in groups, probably because 250,000 years ago you needed to rely on other people to survive by building social relationships. And so we become attracted to and care about people if we have a regular enough exposure to them," says Brooks.
We are all exposed regularly to tiny details about celebrities and fictional characters, watching their days unfold on social media or learning about them from a TV show or book. What hooks us is the emotional connection, especially if the person is exciting or compelling.
"That's the secret to the success of the Harry Potter book series and the TV show
The upsides of parasocial relationships
Parasocial relationships can be a nice complement to your life. They might entertain you, inspire you, educate you, or bring you comfort. You might feel less lonely or like you're part of a tight group or a cultural moment, a feeling the shows
Bonding emotionally with famous or fictional people might also shape people's values. For example, children might learn lessons about right and wrong from characters they connect with on shows such as
One study
The downsides of parasocial relationships
While parasocial relationships can enrich your life, these one-sided affairs can also hurt you.
They won't love you back.
They might contribute to loneliness and isolation if you rely on them too much.
They might have a negative influence on you.
