Twitch Chat & the Illusion of Friendship: How Parasocial… – EarlyGame

Do you know the feeling of really knowing your favorite streamer well? Here begins the phenomenon of the parasocial relationship. An emotional closeness that seems real but remains one-sided. Is this real friendship? | © pexels There are around 140 million active users on Twitch – livestreaming is no longer a niche phenomenon but a global mass medium. With the boom of platforms like Twitch, YouTube Live or Kick, not only the creator-economy is growing, but also a psychological phenomenon that has been occupying researchers for decades: parasocial relationships (PSR). What used to develop between television viewers and TV stars is now reaching new heights of intensity in livestream chats with opportunities but also clear risks. What Are Parasocial Relationships? The concept was already introduced in the 1950s as a seemingly face-to-face relationship between audience and performer. It consists of a feeling of friendship and emotional closeness, an intensive mental engagement with the celebrity, and an influence of future actions like talking about them or supporting their content. Why Livestreaming Is Boosting PSR Different from Netflix or classic TV, livestreaming is… well, live. It’s not pre-produced but in realtime, highly interactive and transparent in the communication. Comments are displayed publicly
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