Gen Z and the Parasocial Relationship Boom
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- November 28, 2025
When your friend gets fired from their job, you feel sad and disappointed. You share their loss so deeply that it might leave you feeling overwhelmed. If another friend gets engaged, you might feel so happy for them that you cry tears of joy.
But if the same things happened to a stranger, your reaction would be different. You might empathize or feel a bit happy, but not on the same emotional scale as you would a friend. Unless that “stranger” isn’t really a stranger at all.
What if they are someone you have never met, yet you have watched them cry in their apartment, followed them through a three-part breakup series, joined them on grocery runs, and maybe, if you are lucky, received occasional replies to your comments.
Would you cry if they announced their engagement? If the answer is yes, then congratulations, you are in a parasocial relationship!
After decades of evolving social media and blurring online boundaries, parasocial relationships are at an all-time high, with people forming deep emotional attachments to influencers, content creators, and celebrities. People they will likely never meet, yet they feel extremely connected to them.
In this article, we’ll explore Gen Z and the impact of parasocial relationships on identity, mental health, and connection, especially as the first generation to grow up with constant internet access.
What are Parasocial relationships?
A parasocial relationship is a one-sided emotional connection people form with internet personalities, celebrities, or influencers.
It happens when someone feels deeply attached to a person they’ve never met, don’t interact with in real life, and don’t have a mutual relationship with. The attachment feels very real, but it exists entirely on one side, hence the term parasocial.
While Gen Z experiences this phenomenon more visibly today because of constant social media exposure, parasocial relationships are nothing new. Long before the internet or YouTube comment sections, people wrote heartfelt letters to their favorite TV hosts, news anchors, and radio personalities.
These messages expressed gratitude, admiration, and even love, directed toward someone who, moments later, would forget the sender’s name the second they moved on to the next letter from yet another emotionally invested fan.
However, now the dynamic is more intense.
They’re no longer just radio hosts you listen to occasionally or TV anchors you see once a day. Today’s creators share nearly everything about their lives online: their morning routines, relationships, tears, achievements, breakdowns, opinions, and daily activities.
This constant access to admired strangers blurs the line between content and connection, making parasocial attachments feel stronger and more personal than ever before.
The Psychological reasons behind parasocial relationships
There are several psychological and social factors that contribute to the rise of parasocial relationships among Gen Z.
The Loneliness Epidemic
Experts say we’re living through a Loneliness Epidemic, and Gen Z reports feeling lonelier than any previous generation.
Loss of community spaces, declining in-person socialization, and heavy reliance on digital environments all contribute to this isolation.
As people spend more time engaging with online creators, many begin to feel more connected to influencers than to the real individuals in their real lives.
But this dynamic isn’t just driven by audiences, creators also rely on building intimacy to maintain engagement. Unlike the radio hosts or news anchors of the past, today’s influencers can reply to comments, react to messages, or address viewers directly, fostering a sense of closeness that blurs the line between audience and “friend.”
With chronic loneliness on the rise, it becomes easy for viewers to develop deep attachments simply because a creator appears accessible.
Attachment Styles
Attachment theory also plays a major role.
For people with avoidant attachment styles, or those who struggle with emotional vulnerability, parasocial relationships feel safe and comforting. These connections require no openness, no reciprocation, and no emotional risk.
An influencer might share “everything” about their life, allowing viewers to feel close and informed. Yet the viewer never has to reveal anything in return.
For someone who finds real-world relationships overwhelming or demanding, this one-sided intimacy can feel easier and more secure.
Narrative Transportation
Another psychological factor is narrative transportation: the process of becoming absorbed into someone’s story.
Influencers share their struggles, growth, routines, heartbreaks, and moments of vulnerability. When viewers see aspects of themselves reflected in these narratives, it creates a sense of recognition and deep emotional resonance.
Feeling understood, even by someone who doesn’t know you exist, can be extremely impactful. Many people become attached because they relate to an influencer’s experiences, believing that shared struggles equal shared connection.
How Parasocial Relationships Benefit Social Media Creators, Influencers, and Celebrities
Parasocial relationships are extremely advantageous for online personalities. When audiences feel deeply attached, creators can leverage this connection in multiple ways. Let’s explore the benefits of parasocial relations for celebrities, influencers and content creators.
Marketing and Monetization
A loyal, emotionally invested audience is more likely to purchase products, attend events, or engage with sponsored content.
Even if the quality of a product is mediocre, fans may buy it simply to feel closer to the influencer or celebrity. Emotional attachment becomes a powerful marketing tool.
Online Defenders and Fandom Loyalty
Parasocial relationships often lead to protective fandoms, sometimes called celebrity cults or cult-like followings.
These fans become highly defensive whenever their favorite creators face criticism. Because the attachment feels personal, any critique of the celebrity is perceived as a personal attack.
For example, we have seen this recently with Taylor Swift. When her album “Life of a Show Girl” received criticism, many Swifties defended her fervently, refusing to question the music’s quality.
Even though many critics were not attacking Taylor Swift as a person but instead discussing the album, the lyrics, and the overall quality, it still sparked Swiftie uproar, with fans of Taylor refusing to hear any simple critiques.
We are also currently witnessing the same thing happen with the girl group Katseye. At one of their concerts, the group debuted their new song “Internet Girl” which is currently facing a lot of online criticism due to some questionable lines and lyrics. Yet, Eyekons (Katseye fans) still shield the group from negative feedback, taking any critique as a personal affront.
Protection During Controversy
Influencers and celebrities often face public scrutiny or cancellation over real or perceived mistakes. Parasocially attached fans can act as a buffer, defending their favorites even when criticism is justified. This loyalty allows celebrities to maintain popularity and avoid full reputational damage, regardless of how reasonable their cancellation is.
For example, Sabrina Carpenter faced some criticism for her album cover. This sparked a harsh internet debate with some fans blindly supporting Sabrina, believing she can do no wrong because of their parasocial attachment.
Essentially, parasocial relationships give creators both economic and social power. Fans are emotionally invested, defend them aggressively online, and maintain interest even during controversies. This dynamic is particularly strong among Gen Z audiences, who tend to form intense parasocial bonds, either canceling celebrities immediately or excusing them entirely as their problematic faves.
How to Avoid Falling into the Parasocial Relationship Trap
Be Mindful
Remember that celebrities, influencers, and content creators are real people whose job is simply to entertain and engage with their audience.
They are not inherently personal friends or role models to admire uncritically. Keeping this perspective helps maintain emotional boundaries.
Separate Art from the Artist
It’s okay to enjoy someone’s work without feeling obligated to admire every aspect of their life. Not everyone will like the same content, and differing opinions are not personal attacks.
By viewing art as separate from the person creating it, you can appreciate creative work without forming unhealthy attachments or expectations.
Conclusion
Parasocial relationships are a defining aspect of Gen Z’s digital experience, offering both connection and risk. While they provide comfort, relatability, and entertainment, they can also foster unrealistic attachments, defensive fandoms, and emotional investment in people you’ve never met.
Awareness, mindfulness, and setting clear boundaries are essential to enjoying content without losing perspective. By distinguishing between creators and the curated personas they present online, viewers can maintain healthier relationships with social media and protect their own emotional well-being.
Quick Snapshot
1. What is a parasocial relationship?
A parasocial relationship is a one-sided emotional attachment to a public figure, influencer, or content creator, where the audience feels connected to someone they’ve never met.
2. Why are parasocial relationships more common among Gen Z?
Gen Z grew up with constant internet access and social media, which makes online creators feel accessible, relatable, and deeply integrated into daily life.
3. How do parasocial relationships benefit influencers or celebrities?
They create loyal fans who are more likely to buy products, defend creators online, and maintain long-term engagement, even during controversies.4. How can I avoid unhealthy parasocial attachments?
Be mindful of boundaries, separate the creator from their content, and remember that online personas are curated for entertainment, not genuine friendship.
