I do think the concept of parasociality has been twisted into something used to shame anyone who feels any sort of connection or sympathy towards public figures, usually ytbers or micro celebrities, and whilst it Is helpful to remind the wider public of the wide separation and imbalance between them and whoever it is that they're watching, I think it's also misguided to expect audiences not to feel any sort of attachment to public figures. They're human beings, and especially micro celebs from yt or twitch are more likely to show a side of themselves that can feel less fabricated than 'proper' celebrities which in turn will trigger this sense of empathy in their audience. I think as long as you do understand that they're not your friend and that there Is a barrier between you and that you truly do not know who they are behind the scenes, like, you're not doing anything wrong by being attached to xyz streamer ykwim. Like that's such a natural thing to feel for a human being you're witnessing, esp on the regular.
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