Abstract (300 words maximum)
Micro-celebrities, in recent years, have been pushed into mainstream celebrity status through the use of social media and various forms of online interaction with followers. The increased instances of people rising to fame through social media has created deeper, parasocial relationships between said Internet micro-celebrities and their followings. To research this occurrence, the author analyzed social media content of a famous micro-celebrity and compared the content which received the most engagement while discussing why. Findings of this analysis revealed a pattern of content in which fans and followers felt connected due to the casual nature of the content and ability of the micro-celebrity to make fans feel like friends. This highlights the role of parasocial interaction in social media and reflects the power of such content and why it is effective.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - English
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Laura McGrath
Case Study: Emma Chamberlain
Micro-celebrities, in recent years, have been pushed into mainstream celebrity status through the use of social media and various forms of online interaction with followers. The increased instances of people rising to fame through social media has created deeper, parasocial relationships between said Internet micro-celebrities and their followings. To research this occurrence, the author analyzed social media content of a famous micro-celebrity and compared the content which received the most engagement while discussing why. Findings of this analysis revealed a pattern of content in which fans and followers felt connected due to the casual nature of the content and ability of the micro-celebrity to make fans feel like friends. This highlights the role of parasocial interaction in social media and reflects the power of such content and why it is effective.