LESSON
Friends vs. Followers
What is the difference between following someone online and being their friend?
When students connect online with content creators and celebrities, they often develop one-sided relationships that feel surprisingly real. This lesson helps students distinguish between parasocial relationships—which are one-sided relationships with media personalities—and authentic friendships built on mutual trust and reciprocity. Students will examine how technology creates different types of connections, and develop strategies to maintain healthy relationships both online and offline.
Objectives
- Identify how technology opens the door to different types of connection
- Understand what a parasocial relationship is
- Analyze how parasocial relationships differ from authentic friendships
Vocabulary
Parasocial Relationship ·
Follower ·
Reciprocal
Parasocial Relationship – a one-sided relationship with a media personality
Follower – someone who pays attention to what a person does or creates, but doesn't have a two-way connection with them
Reciprocal – a social interaction where each person gives and receives equally
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Topics
Time
20 mins.
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