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Energy drinks sponsor your favorite streamer. Luxury labels slide into comment sections. Suddenly, a corporation feels like someone you actually know. This is parasocial marketing — and it's way more calculated than it looks.
We cry at funerals for characters who never existed. We defend their choices like they're our friends. And somehow, that feels completely normal. Here's the psychology behind why scripted people hit different than real ones—and what it says about us.
Virtual influencers have millions of followers, brand deals with Fortune 500 companies, and dedicated fan communities that rival those of human celebrities. The twist? Their fans know exactly what they are — and largely don't care. What does that tell us about where celebrity culture is actually headed?