A parasocial relationship can be described as a one-sided relationship where one person spends their time and emotional energy on another person–online, on television, on a sports team, etc.–who is unaware of their existence entirely. Parasocial aspects of comments are much more frequent under thin mukbang YouTubers (34.44%) than under not thin mukbang YouTubers (16.89%). This supports the idea that the thinner the mukbang YouTuber is, the more people will relate to them or form parasocial relationships with them. By forming parasocial relationships, commenters are seemingly removing themselves from the backstage and making themselves known. While it’s already been shown that audiences feel more connected to thin mukbang YouTubers, the theme of sharing personal stories stands out when comparing the differences in audience reactions within them.
SHARING PERSONAL STORIES
When sharing personal stories, commenters were much more likely to share things with thin mukbang YouTubers. However, the content of these stories varies wildly. Under thin mukbang YouTubers, all personal story comments were about happy memories with their family or sharing personal information to confide in the creator in some way.
These comments are two examples of positive personal stories being shared with thin mukbang YouTubers. Both comments talk about their families and how these videos impact their familial lives positively.
Comments with personal stories under not thin mukbang YouTubers, however, often talk about people they know who have passed away from eating the same way as the creator or their own eating journeys.
This comment reflects on a sad time while also acting as a warning by using the personal story of their friend’s family member as an example of what they perceive will happen to the YouTuber if they do not change their eating habits.
This comment reflects on their own experience losing weight and how it impacted their life as a way to encourage the YouTuber to change their eating habits as well. They are reminded of sadder times, by which they can seemingly relate to the YouTuber.
The difference between the content included in these personal stories shows a stark difference in how audiences view thin and not thin mukbang YouTubers. Commenters trust and are reminded of their families when watching thin mukbang YouTubers but are reminded of sadder stories in their lives when watching not thin mukbang YouTubers. This supports the notion that audiences of not thin mukbang YouTubers only form parasocial relationships with the YouTuber that encourage them to change their habits based on the commenters’ negative experiences while thin mukbang YouTubers are positively relatable in the eyes of their audiences.