LESSON
Parasocial Relationships: From Fan to Fanatic
When does being a fan tip into something else?
Following a creator, an athlete, or a streamer can be fun, comforting, and even meaningful. It can also quietly start costing you time, money, and relationships with people that actually know you back. This lesson lets students sit in the tension of figuring out where admiration for someone who doesn't know they exist starts to crowd out the people who do.
Objectives
- Explain what a parasocial relationship is and why these one-sided connections can feel mutual
- Evaluate different fan behaviors and determine when a normal connection has tipped into an unhealthy one
- Recognize when a one-sided connection is starting to crowd out two-way relationships
Vocabulary
Influencer ·
Parasocial Relationship ·
Chronically Online
Influencer –
Parasocial Relationship –
Chronically Online – when your time on online shapes how you see the world more than your offline experiences do
Topics & Subjects
Time
20 mins.
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