“The pleasure and readability that Okay-pop songs carry can’t be supplied by anybody else. They positively fill our complete persona and assist kids uncover their internal music.” That is how 14-year-old Gurugram pupil, Natalia Robert, describes her relationship with Okay-pop. Her emotions mirror these of hundreds of thousands of youngsters who’ve embraced Korean tradition not merely as leisure however as an emotional ecosystem.
As soon as restricted to area of interest fan circles, Korean dramas and Okay-pop have grown right into a cultural drive, significantly amongst younger Indians who type intense, one-sided emotional bonds with celebrities they’ve by no means met.
Whereas these connections, referred to as parasocial relationships, have led to an increase in inventive communities, they’ve additionally raised issues amongst dad and mom, who fear about extreme display screen time, emotional dependence, and youngsters changing real-world relationships with on-line personas.
The Korean Wave’s rising affect
The Korean Wave, or Hallyu, refers back to the speedy rise of Korean movies, tv dramas, music, and digital content material for the reason that Nineteen Nineties. In India, its affect has accelerated by streaming platforms and social media.
In keeping with researchers of a June 2024 examine titled The Impression of Hallyu (Korean Wave) on Indian Youth’s Intention to Go to South Korea, “The Hallyu (Korean Wave) phenomenon has gained important reputation among the many youthful demographic on a world scale.”
In India right now, researchers observe a big and devoted fan base for music teams equivalent to BTS, Blackpink, Women’ Era, EXO, TWICE, and SHINee. “The enlargement of the Korean wave isn’t restricted to Okay-Pop movies and Korean dramas however has led to curiosity of the youth in Korean magnificence manufacturers, cosmetics, vogue, Korean meals, video games, animation, and so forth.”
The examine, involving knowledge from 153 younger individuals, examined the six elements of the Hallyu, together with Korean drama, Korean music, Korean films, Korean vogue merchandise and cosmetics, Korean meals, and Korean video games. “The information reveals that Korean Music Albums are consumed on the highest fee among the many six parts, with Korean dramas being the second most consumed by the Indian youth,” mentions the examine.
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“The affect of Hallyu has elevated consciousness of on a regular basis Korean tradition, whereas journey between India and Korea continues to develop,” says Myong Kil Yun, regional director for India & SAARC International locations on the Korea Tourism Group, New Delhi.
However what distinguishes Okay-pop from earlier superstar cultures, consultants say, is entry.
“Earlier, Bollywood fandom was largely one-directional,” says counselling psychologist Srishti Mishra. “Kids watched movies or admired stars from a distance. Okay-pop modifications this. Idols seem repeatedly by livestreams and social media, creating ongoing interplay.”
For Natalia, this holds. “Korean idols do reside streams for his or her fandom to allow them to join with them extra. They’re people who attain out to their followers, so we really feel united.”
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With college assignments shifting on groups, all college communication shifting to WhatsApp, there may be little that oldsters can do to maintain children away from the cellphone. (Supply: AI Generated)
Why kids type parasocial bonds
Analysis on parasocial relationships exhibits that adolescents exhibit higher preoccupation with celebrities than different age teams. A 2017 examine revealed in Frontiers in Psychology, a peer-reviewed journal, discovered that 61.1% of early adolescents thought of favorite media figures as relationship companions, reporting higher parasocial involvement and emotional depth.
A Might 2025 scientific examine, The Impression of Childhood Trauma on the Depth of Parasocial Relationships Amongst Adolescents, notes that adolescents are significantly weak. “Whereas parasocial interplay happens throughout media consumption and is usually transient, parasocial relationships are enduring and contain deeper emotional funding over time,” the examine says.
A number of research have additionally highlighted gender variations within the depth of parasocial relationships, with knowledge indicating that, in distinction to their male counterparts, feminine adolescents usually type extra intense PSRs.
These relationships type quietly by repetition, says Mishra. “A toddler may begin by watching a Okay-pop music video, then transfer to interviews, livestreams and behind-the-scenes clips. Over time, the idol turns into a part of their day by day routine.”
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For a lot of younger followers, these idols supply emotional help. For 20-year-old Dimpy Bhatt, Okay-Pop boy band BTS is an escape from irritating days. “Listening to their music and watching their reside classes looks like one thing inside me is therapeutic with out even realising it.”
“They educate us life classes. Throughout our pleased or unhappy days, we take heed to Okay-pop trigger the songs remind us to reside for ourselves,” provides Natalia. (tweaked this quote to repair grammar, please see)
Why dad and mom are anxious
Dad and mom usually discover early results by behaviour change: kids enjoying livestream replays throughout homework, excessive display screen time, temper swings, and misery over on-line criticism of their idols.
“As a result of idols converse on to followers and seem emotionally accessible, kids expertise this as companionship,” Mishra explains. “In early adolescence, when friendships really feel unstable, this presence presents consolation.”
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Scientific psychologist Sunita Samant, founding father of Thoughts Issues, provides, “Within the teen years, children often flip to buddies or their group to speak issues out and really feel understood. However when that house doesn’t really feel secure or obtainable, perhaps there’s not a lot emotional conversation at home, they really feel ignored, or they’re coping with bullying or exclusion, they begin searching for that sense of validation some other place.”
Devika Puri, who managed to maintain her 13-year-old son away from the display screen for a few years, later realised that resistance may very well be “counterproductive”. “With college assignments shifting on groups, all college communication shifting to WhatsApp, there may be little that oldsters can do to maintain children away from the cellphone.”
When admiration turns into overwhelming
Specialists observe that wholesome admiration isn’t a priority when it coexists with on a regular basis functioning. “A toddler might get pleasure from following an idol whereas nonetheless participating in class, household time and offline relationships,” says Mishra. “It turns into regarding when the fandom begins regulating temper.”
The indicators embrace irritability after they miss content material, problem sleeping as a consequence of livestream schedules, or private misery from on-line criticism of the idol. In some instances, kids might say, “They’re the one ones who perceive me,” explains Mishra.
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Samant agrees, “Admiration stays wholesome so long as you recognize them in a traditional manner. The second you begin emulating and obsessing a lot that it turns into overwhelming and looks like a should, that’s the place it crosses a line.”
For fogeys of toddlers, the priority is totally different.
Paroma Bhattacharya, 38, says her fear for her three-year-old “is display screen time relatively than emotional dependence or spending.” At this age, she highlights, kids don’t type attachments to “idols” in the way in which older kids do, however they’ll develop into overly connected to sure characters or routines. “That’s why moderation and grownup supervision are vital, guaranteeing screens don’t change real-world play, interplay, or relaxation.”
Battle at dwelling
Whereas a lot of the battle between dad and mom and youngsters issues display screen time, the underlying challenge is misunderstanding.
“Conflicts often emerge not from fandom itself, however from misunderstanding its emotional position,” Mishra says. “Dad and mom might deal with display screen time or tutorial distraction, whereas kids expertise fandom as significant and emotionally grounding.”
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Puri recognises these challenges. “The behavior of being on the display screen is worrisome.” But she acknowledges: “I don’t assume we as dad and mom can maintain our youngsters away from the display screen. It is a technology that was born with the web in its womb.”
The objective, consultants agree, isn’t prohibition however stability, not dismissal however dialogue, not worry however knowledgeable engagement with the digital emotional ecosystem the place right now’s kids more and more reside. (Supply: AI Generated)
Content material curator Pooja Galgali expresses comparable issues. “Era Alpha is aware of an excessive amount of concerning the world, however you ask them about Mumbai, they don’t have a clue. After lengthy publicity to the display screen, she (my daughter) will get offended or irritable.”
For Natalia, parental response feels dismissive. “Dad and mom ought to at all times help their kids as a result of in the event that they don’t realise how a lot this implies to us, it’s going to drop their own self-esteem and emotional stability.”
The constructive aspect: Group and creativity
Regardless of issues, fandom areas may help kids join with their friends globally and be taught new issues.
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“For a lot of younger folks, fandoms supply their first expertise of group past college or household,” says Mishra. “A toddler who feels socially awkward offline might discover confidence on-line by sharing edits, writing fan fiction, studying choreography or translating lyrics.”
Samant agrees. “Fandom areas assist younger folks really feel a way of belonging by connecting with others who share the identical pursuits. They encourage self-expression by discussions and inventive content material.”
Galgali has noticed these impulses in her daughter. After discovering Okay-pop, “she has develop into very assured. She needs to strive Japanese and Korean meals. She needs to make a journey to Korea, Japan and Singapore.”
Discovering a stability
The objective, consultants agree, isn’t prohibition however stability, not dismissal however dialogue, not worry however knowledgeable engagement with the digital emotional ecosystem the place right now’s kids more and more reside.
“The simplest technique is dialog with out judgment,” says Mishra. “Dad and mom can ask what kids get pleasure from about fandom or what it offers them emotionally. Some households set agreements round display screen time whereas attending concert events or encouraging associated hobbies.”
Samant agrees, “It doesn’t should be an influence wrestle. Youngsters nonetheless want sports activities and offline actions. As a substitute of shutting it down, ask ‘What do you want about this?’ The secret is the vibe at dwelling.”
Puri argues that schooling performs an vital position in such conditions. “It’s vital to coach kids on what constitutes information. Training on tips on how to devour content material and never confuse it with actual identification is essential.”
Bhattacharya emphasises curiosity. “Dad and mom can begin by listening with out dismissing. Setting mild boundaries, encouraging offline play, and reminding kids that celebrities are folks doing a job helps create a wholesome perspective.”
