What all of these stunts provide, too, is the chance for a member of the crowd to best an internet celebrity, to prove that he is just as good as the object of his obsession — and to complicate that bothersome one-way relationship, at least temporarily.

Because the fans are part of the content, but only for a moment. As soon as his turn ends, each p... See more

Many find that audience interaction strengthens the parasocial bond. Twitch streamers like Hasan Piker spend hours responding live to fans; Kai Cenat, another popular streamer, once let fans watch him sleeping. The new formats are a way for passive fans to take active roles in a world they have only imagined. But because the one-on-many stunts are ... See more

In an era in which public health authorities have declared loneliness an epidemic, it stands to reason that many Americans have invested these one-way relationships with meaning.

In turn, these creators promise more of themselves the deeper the audience is willing to go. Substackers and podcasters offer bonus content and chat rooms for paying fans. ... See more