There is a paradox in social media usage. The more you get know people online, the more likely you are to feel alienated. By contrast, there is a comfort in an environment where you know little to nothing about certain people, beyond having certain shared interests and commonalities. It is similar to being in an older tavern or pub, the atmosphere often feels comfortable even if you do not know anyone. It wouldn’t feel out of place to talk to a stranger, because it’s not something you would be invested in the outcome of, or care about them liking you. This is not unrelated to the phenomenon of people feeling isolated from a lot social media usage, but it isn’t necessarily the same as becoming jealous because of the lives of strangers or acquaintances, although that can be part of it as well. The longer you are in such social media environments, you become disposed towards constructing semi-parasocial relationships, which is furthered by mutually interacting with them on some level. This makes a relationship not be entirely superficial or fake, but is still not anything particularly meaningful. It is entirely logical that people do this, as most humans who are not socially or mentally abnormal in that regard, are made to create relationships from socializing.
The Semi-Parasocial Sphere
The Semi-Parasocial Sphere
The Semi-Parasocial Sphere
There is a paradox in social media usage. The more you get know people online, the more likely you are to feel alienated. By contrast, there is a comfort in an environment where you know little to nothing about certain people, beyond having certain shared interests and commonalities. It is similar to being in an older tavern or pub, the atmosphere often feels comfortable even if you do not know anyone. It wouldn’t feel out of place to talk to a stranger, because it’s not something you would be invested in the outcome of, or care about them liking you. This is not unrelated to the phenomenon of people feeling isolated from a lot social media usage, but it isn’t necessarily the same as becoming jealous because of the lives of strangers or acquaintances, although that can be part of it as well. The longer you are in such social media environments, you become disposed towards constructing semi-parasocial relationships, which is furthered by mutually interacting with them on some level. This makes a relationship not be entirely superficial or fake, but is still not anything particularly meaningful. It is entirely logical that people do this, as most humans who are not socially or mentally abnormal in that regard, are made to create relationships from socializing.