Parasocial Relationships
With Youtubers
Rooster Teeth and Achievement Hunter are Youtube based
channels that upload daily videos to their channel with content regarding videogame news, gameplay, live commentary of games, original content, and podcasts.
I have been watching this companies productions for roughly 8 years and have a
strong connection with them because of it. I have gotten to know most of the
main cast, actors, and actresses by viewing Rooster Teeths behind the scenes
videos and listening to their podcasts. I feel that I have truly gotten to know
personally listening and watching them for so long and now talking about the
news and gossip with my friends who also watch the show.
Often on the podcast, usually after meet ups and
conventions, they will discuss how fans approach them and have conversations as
if they truly know them. Rooster teeth employees often will say how weird it is
that thousands of people listen in daily and they have no idea who any of them
are. I felt as if they were talking directly to me when I first heard them say
this, because I feel that I truly I know them. I know so much about their lives
but the sad part is they have no idea I exist. I know all of their names, where
they are from, and a lot more of their personal information.
I think what has created such a great bond between with
Rooster Teeth and my relationship is that everyday Rooster Teeth uploads
roughly and hour and a half of content each day. This is not including tweets
from twitter or their an hour-long podcast and their 2 hour podcast that I also
listen to each week. Along with these two podcast a few of the smaller cast
members also have their own separate podcast that is also 2 hours long each
week. I feel that this is the ultimate parasocial relationship because of the
sheer amount of content that Rooster Teeth releases each week.
I feel that this parasocial relationship is one of the
strongest relationships because of the amount of content that this company
uploads. Most film actors do not have roughly 11 hours of airtime per week
unlike this Youtube company. I would be willing to argue that most followers of
Youtubers have a parasocial relationship because of the amount of content that
Youtubers upload per day. A very common Youtube trend is called vlogging, video
blogging, which they give daily updates about their lives. I think that because
of vlogging, follower feel very real and strong emotional connections with their
favorite Youtuber’s. With a combination of the amount of content uploaded each
day and vlogging, it becomes very easy to have a parasocial relationship with
Youtubers.
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