Instagram & Parasocial Relationships Exploring How the Platform Normalizes Celebrity Worship Among Youth Using Case Studies of Three A-List Celebrities

<p dir="ltr">Social Media has transformed the scope of the world wide web; most notably, bridging the gap between fans and the public figures they admire. The phenomenon has virtually eliminated the middle person of traditional media like print, television and broadcast, by giving fans direct access to their idols. Nevertheless, this connection is typically one-sided and can lead to the development of parasocial relationships; where one party has invested time and energy into a perceived relationship, while the other is virtually unaware of their admirer’s existence. The purpose of this study is to highlight how perceived access to celebrities through social media can encourage idolization and obsession in impressionable youth and potentially increase the development of parasocial interactions and relationships. This is done by exploring how the fans of three A-list celebrities interact with them on Instagram. </p><p dir="ltr">Key words: social media, parasocial relationships/interactions, celebrity, celebrity worship, idols, fandom, Instagram.</p>