Navigating Trans-Parasocial Relationships and Emotional Bonds

Abstract: Social media influencers have emerged as powerful figures in digital culture, engaging followers in relationships that differ from one-sided parasocial dynamics. Scholars have proposed the framework of trans-parasocial relations, characterized by collective reciprocity, synchronous and asynchronous interaction, and co-creation. However, little research has explored this phenomenon among adolescents, who are particularly susceptible to media influence. This study conducted semistructured interviews with 20 Chinese adolescents aged 13–19 to examine their perceived relationships and emotional bonds with influencers. Findings corroborate and extend trans-parasocial relationships in the adolescent context, showing that these connections are imaginably and interactively connected, collectively and selectively reciprocal, and co-created. Importantly, the study reveals a set of distinct emotional bonding patterns in trans-parasocial relationships that diverge from traditional parasocial attachment, characterized by automated proximity, hedonic attachment, familiarity-based security, and flexible commitment. These insights offer a culturally grounded contribution to media psychology and deepen understanding of adolescent engagement in social media environments.