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Category: Project

Description: With the rapid proliferation of social media, individuals who worship certain celebrities—i.e., fans—now have extensive and increasingly interactive means to follow their idols, access related content, and engage with fellow fans. While parasocial relationships between fans and celebrities are connected to several psychological benefits, including a sense of belonging to a fan community, they might also reinforce conflicts between different fandoms. Referring to social identity theory, this pre-registered study explores the potential dark side of the fan experience.