The one-and-a-half sided parasocial relationship: The curious case of live streaming

Abstract

Parasocial relationships have traditionally been conceptualized as one-sided, non-reciprocal relationships with media figures. However, the proliferation of online media “microcelebrities” via live streaming has shifted the nature of parasocial relationship away from the classic one-sided relationship and towards a “one-and-a-half” sided relationship characterized by the potential for reciprocal communication, strong community affiliation, fandom cultures, wishful identification, high emotional engagement, and increased presence. This paper explores the theoretical and practical implications of this shift, specifically within the context of live streaming on Twitch.