Covering their bedroom wall with posters of a movie star. Playing the same band’s albums non-stop. Checking TikTok every day to see what an influencer is doing. Often, these are completely normal behaviors during adolescence.
But what if your teen also feels genuinely connected to someone who may not even know they exist?
These one-sided emotional connections are known as “parasocial relationships” in teens. They can offer comfort, inspiration, and somewhere for teens to explore who they are. But sometimes, these attachments can become intense or start replacing real-life relationships.
Knowing the difference between your teen being a fan and their behavior crossing over into something less healthy may help you feel more confident supporting and helping them. This page covers the ins and outs of these connections, including:
Parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships with someone you don’t actually know personally. The other person is usually a:[1]
An adolescent may feel a genuine connection and believe they really know this other person because they’ve spent a lot of time watching, listening to, or reading about them.
For example, say your teen adores a certain singer. They have all their albums. They’ve been to all the concerts (and bought all the t-shirts). Maybe they’ve interacted with the singer on social media. To an adolescent, this might feel like a real relationship, even though the celebrity on the other side of the screen doesn’t know who they are.
If you think this sounds like your teen being a fan of someone, you may be right, but there are key differences between being a fan and a parasocial relationship. For instance:
One-sided relationships and celebrity attachment in teens might look like:
During adolescence, finding a sense of belonging and figuring out Who am I? become increasingly important.[1][3] Part of this process may involve celebrity, creator, or influencer relationships.
For instance, imagine your teen is passionate about drawing. They might follow an artist online, see their work, hear about their process, and think, Wow, they’re a bit like me. Maybe I could do that someday, too!
Or, a teenager may feel different from their classmates and turn to social media to try and find a place where they fit in. They might find an influencer and think, Finally, someone who gets me, when they hear them talk about relatable experiences.[4] They may feel like there’s a genuine connection and develop a teen-influencer attachment.
Also, parasocial connections offer a way of experiencing relationships without the risk of rejection. It’s not like the celebrity is going to “break up” with them.
Social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube can make parasocial attachments feel like real-life friendships even though they are happening in the teens digital life.
Consider this scenario:
Your teen watches a creator talking from their bedroom, sees what they ate for breakfast, sits with them while they both put on their makeup, and hears about their breakup.
Your child may feel like they’re getting an intimate glimpse into their favorite influencer’s everyday life, which may make them feel emotionally close to them.[5]
Plus, if that creator “likes” your teen’s comment or mentions their name during a livestream, the relationship might suddenly feel two-sided to your teen – even when it isn’t.
The key difference is that while your teen might know hundreds of facts about them, the social media personality will likely know almost nothing about your teen.
Parasocial relationships may offer certain benefits for some adolescents, such as:[3]
However, these relationships also come with potential risks which may show up as:[1][3][6][7][8]
While parasocial relationships in teens might have some upsides, it’s worth knowing when these relationships may be negatively impacting your teen’s well-being.
Mission Prep is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
There isn’t a magic number of hours spent scrolling, or posts viewed, that suddenly make a parasocial relationship unhealthy. It’s often more useful to think about the patterns in how it’s affecting your teen.
For instance, you might notice your teen becomes distressed when the influencer doesn’t post or if they genuinely believe they have a personal relationship with them. Or, you may see parasocial relationships affecting your teen’s:[3]
The negative impacts could also look like your teen constantly comparing themselves with the influencer or being jealous of their relationships.
If you recognize these signs in your teen, you may feel reassured to know there are things they can do to help themselves as well as ways you can support them.
Parasocial relationships in teens aren’t necessarily a bad thing, and they don’t mean you have to stop enjoying someone’s content. You can still be a big fan while keeping some boundaries in mind:
1. Remember that you’re only seeing part of someone’s life online. A like, reply, or shout-out might feel exciting, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have a personal friendship with an influencer or celebrity.
2. You don’t need to buy every piece of merchandise or have all of their paid subscriptions to prove you’re a “real” fan. You can still be a huge fan without spending all of your money on them.
3. Notice how the relationship makes you feel, and keep making time for your friends, family, hobbies, and the rest of your life offline. If following someone on social media leaves you feeling anxious, jealous, or bad about yourself, taking a break might help.
4. If you’re worried about how attached you feel, talk to someone you trust. There’s nothing embarrassing about asking for help.
If your teen feels devastated because their favorite online personality has disappeared or doesn’t engage with them on platforms, saying, “But you don’t even know them!” probably won’t help.
You don’t necessarily need your teen to end the parasocial relationship. Instead, you can help them understand it and keep it in perspective.
For instance, you might try:
Parasocial relationships in teens aren’t the enemy here, but they aren’t a substitute for real-life relationships, either. If you’re concerned about your teen’s behavior or mood, seeking professional support could help.
Mission Prep provides treatment for teens experiencing various mental health conditions. Mental Health support is a phone call away – call 866-901-4047 to learn about your treatment options.
See our residences in Southern California’s Los Angeles & San Diego areas.
Take a look at our Minneapolis-St. Paul area homes in Hennepin County.
View our facilities in Loudoun County, VA within the DC metro area.
If your teen’s attachment to a parasocial relationship starts replacing friendships, interfering with sleep or school, affecting their self-esteem, or causing significant distress, it may be time to consider seeking extra support.
At Mission Prep Teen Treatment, we help teens who are experiencing mental health challenges, including those connected to their online life. Our team can help your teen understand what they’re feeling, build healthy connections, and develop ways to cope.
We offer tailored treatment programs and therapy services to foster sustainable change for adolescents and their families. Whether your teen could benefit from residential treatment at one of our locations or something more flexible, like an outpatient mental health program delivered virtually, our team can help.
Mission Prep Teen Treatment accepts insurance and is in-network with most major providers. We are happy to help you check your insurance coverage for mental health care.
Learn about our admissions process online or call 866-901-4047 to speak with a caring member of our team who can answer any questions you might have. Reach out for a free, no-obligation conversation.
"*" indicates required fields
🔒 100% Confidential
No Commitment
✓ Instant Results
Are You Covered for Mental Health Treatment?
We’re in-network with many providers. Call us at 866-901-4047 to verify your benefits and find out how much your plan will cover
Find out if Mission Prep is right for you by reaching out to us and speaking with one of our admissions representatives.
