Love Island & Influencers: The Parasocial Trap

If you've found yourself talking about Love Island contestants as if they're your own friends - or arguing online over people you've never actually met - you're definitely not alone. It's something psychologists call a parasocial relationship: a one-sided emotional connection we develop with public figures, influencers or reality TV stars.   But when does harmless entertainment become something more? And are these relationships affecting the way we connect with the people in our own lives?   Joining us now is Chloe Callanan, physcotherapist and owner of Are You Well Therapy, to chat about why we're so invested in people we've never met, the risks of parasocial relationships, and why nurturing our real-life friendships is more important than ever.