Young people have easy access to an array of fictional characters and celebrities, many of whom exist across platforms (e.g., protagonists from the graphic novel Heartstopper now appear in live-action on Netflix) and are manifested in toys and other merchandise. Children and adolescents often create powerful, socioemotional connections with fictional characters and celebrities called parasocial relationships (PSRs). Preschoolers clutching Elmo dolls, tweens fantasizing about interactions with TikTok influencers, and queer teens finding affirmation in a gay couple on Schitt’s Creek all hint at possible PSRs. These one-sided, imagined social ties might raise concerns for parents and other stakeholders; however, PSRs are generally normative and adaptive and provide many social affordances. Children and adolescents relate to media personalities in varied ways, and these connections can lead to a variety of outcomes ranging from improving school readiness to enhancing psychological well-being.https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/communication_books/1025/thumbnail.jp
