The perils of parasocial relationships

The big news this week, among a certain group of very online people at least, has been the escalating feud between feminist advocates and media personalities, Abbie Chatfield and Clementine Ford.

If you need to know more, there’s no shortage of coverage from those practically hyperventilating with gratitude at the prospect of profitable clicks. 

Essentially, Chatfield alleges that Ford has developed a parasocial relationship with her and has been making judgements and comments based on this impression.

Parasocial relationships are nothing new. Public figures, celebrities, musicians, and even fictional characters have long been vessels for hopes, dreams, and expectations.

Many of us, for example, live in a quiet yet constant state of dread that we’ll awake to a push notification announcing the death of David Attenborough. 

The broadcaster marked his 99th birthday with an avalanche of tributes, and despite his public appearances now being largely restricted to a disembodied voice, he remains a source of inspiration and comfort to millions.

The age of content creators (not influencers, per Hannah Ferguson) has hypercharged this tendency. People who share more and more of their lives and perspectives online risk their audiences presuming they know the whole person, and making judgements as such.

Followers now not only believe they can see an entire life, but that they’re part of it. TikTok’s latest feature, allowing creators to activate DMs during live streams, blurs the boundaries further.

Failing to appreciate the difference between a public persona and the messy complexity of an actual person is a dangerous and ultimately disappointing path to tread, particularly as Gen Z tends to amplify different aspects of their personalities depending on the platform. 

It’s much safer to put your faith and trust in something that could never let you down. Like Bunnings.