First encountered in a post by Nick Hilton on Medium
...A parasocial relationship is, fundamentally, one-sided. It's a term that has emerged, in the internet era, largely to describe the interactions between YouTubers and their fans. The idea is that these YouTubers invited a form of intimacy: they showed them inside their houses, made them privy to their relationship struggles, at all times sold a form of authenticity. And, in return, their viewers felt an investment in their lives. They felt like they were part of the family, part of the friendship group, part of the squad (note how many of these digital creators use some variant of 'team' to describe their broader fanbase). And so it was a one-sided relationship, yes, but one that was born out of invitation. Come into my home, these creators seemed to say, and feast of my domestic bliss.But really, parasociality goes far beyond YouTubers. Think about the number of men who are obsessed by particular athletes ... That relationship, between bloke and sports star, is parasocial. Fans of Cristiano Ronaldo will post starry-eyed workout videos, or Saudi propaganda, that has nothing to do with his prowess on the field. In point of fact, it's a trend that has been developing, exacerbated by the delocalisation processes of the internet. Kids are no longer fans of football teams, they're fans of football players. "Are you City or United?" has been replaced by "are you Haaland or Hojlund?"
And parasociality is the reason why so many grown men are giving money to Sophie Rain, notionally to see her breasts (over and over and over again). It is because the transaction creates a relationship. A tenuous, vapid, mercenary relationship, but a relationship all the same. Look: of course, it’s important that she's young and pretty and willing to strip off. That's the idea shes selling.