Parasocial relationships aren’t just about fandom, they’re about the illusion of connection we build with people who don’t actually know us. In a world where access feels endless, it’s easy to forget that admiration doesn’t equal intimacy, and that being online doesn’t make someone yours to dissect. In this episode of Unfiltered Yaps, I unpack the messy, fascinating space between connection and consumption, and what it means to create healthy boundaries in the digital age.
We’ll talk about your answers to “What’s your opinion on parasocial relationships?” from “paying emotional rent to someone who doesn’t know I exist,” to thoughts on how social media makes it harder to keep distance, to the way creators can unintentionally blur those same lines with their own audiences. I’ll share why I think we can’t (and shouldn’t) eliminate parasocial relationships completely, how being both a creator and a consumer makes me rethink what “healthy engagement” looks like, and the reminder that connection doesn’t have to mean access.
Plus, this week’s journal prompt to help you reflect on how you want people to engage with you and how you can protect your own energy when you’re the one engaging online.
