Post-pandemic: parasocial relationships

A "parasocial relationship" describes a one-sided relationship that a person has with someone they don't know – usually a celebrity. Since the covid-19 pandemic, there has been an increase in people seeking parasocial relationships online.

Published 03 August 2023

This lesson is more than a year old. Please check the facts before teaching to ensure they are up-to-date and still correct.

Can parasocial relationships be a good thing? And what could celebrities do to make sure they don't encourage unhealthy parasocial relationships?

Use this one-hour Headline lesson to help your students:

  • Understand what parasocial relationships are
  • Identify healthy and unhealthy behaviour
  • Debate whether or not parasocial relationships are a good thing

These teaching resources are supported by Morgan Stanley. The Economist Educational Foundation maintained full editorial control.

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