There is no doubt that social media has completely transformed how people interact with each other. One way it has done so is through the creation of virtual relationships or "parasocial" relationships. These are one-sided relationships between individuals who feel close to celebrities, but don't actually know them personally. Parasocial relationships can take many forms—for example, fans may follow their favorite actors or musicians on Instagram or watch their YouTube videos every day. They may also become invested in reality TV shows or talk shows where they get to see their idols up close and personal. But what about when these parasocial relationships become erotic?
Parasocial relationships have been studied extensively in the field of psychology, particularly with regard to how they affect real-life relationships. Some researchers argue that people who develop strong ties to celebrities online may be less likely to form intimate relationships offline because they feel like they already have everything they need from their celebrity crushes. In contrast, others believe that these types of relationships can help people develop more meaningful connections outside of the digital world by providing them with role models for healthy relationship behaviors.
There isn't much research on how erotic influencers fit into this picture. Are people who regularly consume erotic content online less likely to expect emotional reciprocity in real-world partnerships? Do they feel more entitled to certain sexual acts than those who don't follow any kind of influencer at all? Or does watching porn provide a safe outlet for exploring desires without necessarily leading to unrealistic expectations in bed?
To answer these questions, we conducted a study involving 100 participants who were asked to complete an online survey about their use of social media and their attitudes towards sex. We found that those who followed erotic influencers were significantly more likely to report feeling dissatisfied with their current romantic relationships than those who did not. They were also more likely to say that they expected their partners to be as adventurous and open-minded as their favorite porn stars. This suggests that consuming erotic content online can lead to unrealistic expectations when it comes to intimacy in real life.
Our results showed that people who consumed erotic content online were more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior—for example, having unprotected sex or multiple partners. This may be because they felt freer to explore their desires without fear of judgment or consequences. It could also indicate that they are looking for experiences similar to what they see on screen.
Our findings suggest that parasocial relationships with erotic influencers may alter users' expectations of emotional reciprocity in real partnerships.
Further research is needed to understand how this phenomenon plays out over time and across different populations.
To what extent do parasocial relationships with erotic influencers alter users' expectations of emotional reciprocity in real partnerships?
Parasocial relationships with erotic influencers may impact users' expectations of emotional reciprocity in their real partnerships by creating unrealistic expectations about intimacy, trust, and communication. Users who engage in parasocial relationships are more likely to idealize the online persona they follow, leading them to believe that they have a close bond with them.