After the GP Explorer event organized recently by the French Youtuber Squeezie, I realized how deep parasocial relationships can go. For context, the GP Explorer is a massive YouTube and Twitch even where influencers and streamers race in real Formula 4 cars, watched live by millions of viewers. After the event, I saw countless videos of people crying, saying the experience had changed their lives and even some who quit their jobs because they felt “inspired” to live more authentically. Others talked about how “proud” they were of the creators. But in reality, it was simply a car race between millionaires, entertaining, yes but still a carefully staged and temporary show.
What fascinated me most was how many people, including those who hadn’t even attended the event started buying expensive merch or making financial sacrifices just to feel part of it, I also saw a girl who sent a ticket for The Weeknd’s concert to one of the streamers to invite him to go with her.
This reminded me of a video I watched a while ago, titled “Influencers Don’t Care If You Go Broke” by Cara Nicole. It basically talks about how influencers create an emotional bond with their followers, even though they don’t actually know them. When you follow someone for a long time, you see their face every day, you listen to their stories, their routines, their emotions, it starts to feel like you know them personally and like you could trust them. So when they recommend something or promote a brand, it ends up not feeling like an ad anymore and instead like a friend giving you advice.
That is exactly what i saw with the GP Explorer event. People didn’t just watch, they got emotionally involved. Buying merch wasn’t juts supporting a creator, it was a way to feel part of their world. But at the end of the day, it is still a one-sided relationship. These influencers have no idea who is behind the screen. And even if they seem real and relatable, a lot of what we see is still a part of a business built around engagement and visibility.
What is truly scary to me is how far this can go, to the point where i ended up wondering if these people were mentally sane. Indeed, some people spend hundreds of euros to feel closer to a creator or even go into debt because they think it’s worth it to be “part of something bigger”. It feels like these people don’t even have a hint of rationality anymore.
I am not saying people should not admire influencers or enjoy their content? I get it since i like wtaching creators who make me laugh or motivate me too. But I think it’s important to stay aware of the limits. You can enjoy someone’s work without thinking they’re your friend or letting their lifestyle define how you feel about your own life to the point to make your mental health and your financial security in danger.
You don’t need to buy something or prove your support to feel connected. Sometimes just watching and smiling is enough.
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