Navigating Parasocial Relationships: The Impact of Online Friendships

According to the dictionary, the term parasocial relationship refers to a relationship that a person imagines having with another person whom they do not actually know, such as a celebrity or a fictional character.

This often involves a person feeling as though they have a close, intimate connection with someone whom they have never met due to closely following that person (or character) in media, such as TV shows, videos, podcasts, etc.

What if I told you that as a person whose work exists mostly in the digital world, I have been inspired by, bonded with and made huge life decisions based off of people I have not and may never meet?

I met Lynn on Tiktok this year (2023) and it’s honestly wild how much inspiration I take from Lynn's openness and vulnerability in a space that isn’t always forgiving.

A little more about Lynn…

I am a 4th year PhD student who has spent the last nine years building a successful career in healthcare and academia. I have recently had a few massive life changes, including moving from the UK to Canada, pausing my PhD and leaving academia. I share how I am navigating my life and my opinions on TikTok. My handle is @researchwithlynn.