"Let's be honest: we've all got that one celebrity, influencer, or podcast host who lives rent-free in our heads. You know their dog's name, their morning routine, their trauma story, and their oat milk brand of choice. You might even find yourself defending them in comment sections like they're your actual friend. Congratulations, you've formed a parasocial relationship. For those who aren't as active on social media, that's a one-sided bond we form with people we don't actually know."
"On a neurological level, this makes sense. After all, our brains don't perfectly distinguish between real and mediated (through a screen) interaction. When someone looks into the camera and speaks directly to you, your mirror neurons light up just as if you're talking to them face-to-face. This is why parasocial relationships can feel genuinely comforting. They activate the same circuits of familiarity and trust as real friendships. And in an increasingly disconnected world, that comfort definitely counts for something."
Parasocial relationships are one-sided emotional bonds formed with media personalities and public figures. The term originated in the 1950s to describe audience illusions of intimacy with hosts and celebrities. Modern examples include deep emotional reactions to vloggers and podcasters and feeling personal familiarity with creators. Neurologically, mediated direct address can activate mirror neurons and the same familiarity and trust circuits as face-to-face interaction. These bonds can reduce loneliness, improve mood, and provide comfort, especially during times of social isolation. The main risk is when users begin to conflate mediated interactions with real-life relationships and lose boundary awareness.
Read at Fast Company
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