Social media influencers can be described as opinion leaders who are able to influence the attitudes, behavior, opinions and purchasing decisions of their audience. The information that influencers share with their followers is perceived as reliable, honest and authentic because their audience can identify with them more. Through stories, photos and videos, influencers reveal a great glimpse of their personal lives to their followers. This intimacy contributes to the creation of a parasocial relationship, which means that media users build a kind of false relationship with a media character. This ensures that the audience views the influencer as a kind of friend, making the information obtained more reliable. Influencers are seen as more mundane and authentic than mainstream celebrities, such as Hollywood actors. This difference is attributed to the absence of a cultivated image, a more candid sense of humor, the lack of a filter and risk-taking. Influencers do not stop themselves from showing the less beautiful sides of their lives. If the person realizes that the relationship is one-sided, this can lead to a feeling of disappointment. Parasocial relationships can also become a substitute for relationships in everyday life. Within parasocial relationships there is no social control, so unusual or undesirable behavior is not corrected. In addition, individuals can become emotionally dependent on the person with whom they have a parasocial relationship, which can lead to mental problems.
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