Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that the relationships we have with idols are always healthy, but I’m not sure they’re ‘parasocial’ either.
Parasocial relationships were originally studied in the context of radio hosts (who address their viewers) and characters from soap operas and other TV shows. According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of parasocial is “relating to or involving a one-sided emotional connection with someone (especially a celebrity or fictional character) whom one does not know personally.”
Fictional characters by definition can’t have connections with their fans, and radio hosts weren’t really interested in fans, at least not in the same way as idols. Take BTS, Twice, or solo artists like IU. They write songs directly to us. They answer questions on live streams. They take their relationship to fans extremely seriously. There are sooo many videos of Twice crying while they sing the songs they wrote to us (here. are. a. few.)! That’s not a one-sided emotional connection.
Absolutely, they don’t know us personally (well maybe some of you who go to every fan meet lol). But it’s not parasocial, IDK it’s something else, ‘Mutusocial?’ ‘Semisocial?’ Please help me out here or tell me if I’m wrong lol. I see so many posts worrying about being parasocial on here, but I don’t think it’s totally fair to us or the relationships.
submitted by /u/MainPhreaker
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