Surprising Research on Relationships: YouTubers Make Relationships Happier Than Lovers!

A study by researchers at the University of Essex examined more than 1,000 participants from the US and the UK and assessed participants’ views on their bilateral and parasocial relationships.

The study examined the impact of YouTubers on their followers and found that for many people, being friends with YouTubers gives them more happiness than close friends or romantic relationships.

Is Getting Support from YouTubers and Establishing Relationships with Them More Effective?

The study assessed participants’ views on their bilateral and parasocial relationships and suggested that people with strong parasocial relationships found them more emotionally satisfying than weak bilateral relationships. Additionally, these weak relationships could include neighbors and co-workers, while parasocial relationships also included YouTubers or other content creators.

The research revealed that 52 percent of participants had a strong parasocial relationship and 36 percent felt close to a YouTuber. He also found that these one-sided close relationships are not exclusive to young or single people, and that participants of all ages feel a connection with a fictional character or a famous person.

The third study on the subject aimed to understand whether participants would need parasocial relationships at a time when they needed emotional support.

For the study, participants wrote about an event they experienced with someone they had a strong relationship with and felt in need of support. Afterwards, they told the participants who the YouTuber they knew best was and how much help this person would help them in a difficult situation.

As a result of the study, researcher Dr. Veronica Lamarche stated that some people firmly believe that the person they have a parasocial relationship with will help. Looking at the overall study, it was seen that the most supportive relationships were not YouTubers. Relationships with emotional companionship or close friends turned out to be more supportive.