It’s important to realize the effect of social media on celebrity crushes. Parasocial relationships are one-sided. Yet in the age of social media, they appear interactive. Social media has the ability to make celebrities feel a little closer to us. We think we know their lives by following their Instagram feeds, viewing their live streams, and interacting with their content. This overexposure blurs the line between reality and fantasy. This benefits the celebrities because we provide them with revenue and popularity, in exchange for information and acknowledgement. Celebrity culture can be toxic and not everyone should be held on a pedestal. Social media only allows us to see things through a distorted lens. It has the power to manipulate and persuade us. For example, I didn’t think Jack Harlow was attractive until I was convinced by Tiktok. Social media makes our celebrity crushes feel more accessible. However, just because your celebrity crush is on your For-You page or follows you on Twitter doesn’t mean they are your best friend.
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