When fans feel like friends: The parasocial pull to fame
Frequent exposure to public figures on social platforms can turn admiration into the illusion of friendship, a phenomenon psychologists call parasocial relationships.
People often feel they ‘know’ celebrities when musicians post videos or athletes share workouts, making those figures feel like part of daily life. Psychology Today defines this effect as a parasocial relationship — repeated exposure and engagement can make admiration take on the quality of friendship.