The Internet Knows Everything
Are Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner really dating? Will what Blake Lively named her baby change the way I see the world? Is Pete Davidson in this relationship as a publicity stunt, or is it real? Do I really care, or have I just been conditioned to read a headline and automatically feel the “need to know” every detail about famous strangers?
We live in the era of social media, and it has never been easier to get direct connection into a celebrity, or influencer's life. As social media dominates the digital age, a new phenomenon has swiftly come into play; para-social relationships. Para-social relationships concern the crucially one-sided relationship between fan and celebrity. In these ‘relationships,’ one side– the fan– invests emotional energy into a celebrity persona, who has no idea that the other exists. With para-social relationships, fans become attached to celebrities online, or internet personalities like influencers, and feel entitled in their attachment to make assumptions about their lives. The dynamic of this ‘relationship’ has the persona on a pedestal, where they are held to certain unknown expectations by the fan. These expectations are based on the fan’s perception of the celebrity and can even be strong enough when publicized to affect the well-being of the idolized persona. In the one-sided aspect of the para-social relationship, celebrities are left to defend themselves against fans who obsess over how they believe the celebrity should behave, perform, and live their lives, but also avoid seeming ungrateful for the fanbase that promotes their fame. Despite how unrealistic the expectations can be that fans set, there is still backlash and disappointment when the celebrity does not fulfill them.
Maybe it's tied to an evolutionary thing, where those at the top of the hierarchy received the most attention. Perhaps the celebrities we idolize and invest time into to keep up with all the details of their life, are a result of this evolutionary predisposition. Media and technology have only helped give a faster, more accessible way to discover these details.
With such high levels of pressure, it's not surprising that celebrities promote certain personas that cater to their fan base. In situations where para-social relationships are fulfilled, the fan believes they know this person, yet they are only receiving another carefully crafted character.
From the perspective of casual investment into the lives of celebrities, where there is no para-social relationship, there is still a certain normalcy to commenting on a person's personal life. It had been totally accepted and normalized by society to publicly debate about a person's sexuality. These personal, intimate aspects of a celebrity’s life are casual conversation amongst strangers, due to headlines in the media. Watching the Superbowl halftime show, and immediately wondering if Rhianna is pregnant. I open Twitter and find that thousands are debating over the answer. Did Harry and Louis from One Direction have a secret relationship? Is Shawn Mendes dating his 50-year-old chiropractor, or is that a front to hide his sexuality? Why are these topics broadcasted online.
“Did Harry and Louis from One Direction have a secret relationship? Is Shawn Mendes dating his 50-year-old chiropractor, or is that a front to hide his sexuality? Why are these topics broadcasted online. ”
When do we reach the point where we cross the moral line of investment into someone's personal life? Especially celebrities, who are constantly exploited by tabloids. At what point was it decided that outside of their performances, celebrities also owe their fans insight into their life. The details of their sexuality, their opinions, lifestyle, friends, partners, clothes, cars, etc. Gossiping about celebrities is fun. I don’t know them personally, so what does it matter? But perhaps, passing around gossip and spreading rumors is not the mindless escape it was once believed to be. Now it comes with responsibility.
Instagram accounts are created by fans to conspire about their token celebrities. For instance, there was a whole account created for the purpose of trying to prove that Zayn Malik–another former member of One Direction– was not the father of Gigi Hadid’s baby. Even worse is that there were comments on the posts maliciously stating they want Gigi Hadid to miscarry. How absolutely deranged to comment such evil, and on a public platform. In the nature of parasocial relationships, some fans may become so attached to the celebrity they cross social boundaries because they feel like they have an intimate, close, relationship with the celebrity. Enough that they feel an entitlement to violate the private life of the celebrity. There is this odd notion that since celebrities are so famous and ‘big’, they should be accustomed to any hate they receive; And, as their career depends on their relationship with people, hate is going to come with the job. There is a contrast in society to treat celebrities as a friend, yet disregard the hate and harassment they receive. It leads to the question: does society see celebrities as “real people?
Parasocial relationships can also be quite a positive factor for celebrities. Kanye West for example, has tweeted many anti-semitic tweets, yet is still strongly supported and defended by his fanbase. West, through his career as an artist, has opened up about the hardships of his life, giving fans an intimate look into his past. But, he has also openly become increasingly controversial through his career. His fanbase, those who have formed a parasocial relationship with the artist, excuse his controversial, hateful statements, because they believe they have an understanding of the “true” intention behind such statements. Often claiming that West is just “misunderstood.” In this case, West is influencing his young fan demographic who have formed parasocial relationships with him, into supporting his bigoted ideas and opinions, as his loyal fan base believes they can trust whatever West believes in. It is important to remain critical of celebrities. With the power of parasocial relationships with their fan base, they can encourage bigotry, and hateful ideas.
There is still light-hearted celebrity gossip available. It doesn’t make you a bad person. Gossip is also not a negative thing. Gossiping can lead to conversations about the cultural significance of celebrities, questioning narratives and politics. Gossip can still be okay! The moral panic is arguably at a minimum. There is the difference for those who engage in celebrity gossip between mindless entertaining rumors, and rumors that can cause harm. It is up to your own moral compass to determine where you draw the line. Keep in mind despite celebrity status, celebs are still people. No one is immune from the rumours and hate of the ‘internet’.
