Is it possible we could end up with dictators where their supporters all think the dictator is not just their leader but also their friend, despite never meeting the guy?
I wonder if Trump represents a warning about the long term danger of parasocial relationships. How many of his supporters think of him as a personal friend?
That gives room for a lot of long term exploitation of vulnerable people, who being increasingly disconnected form real relationships could fixate on these parasocial relationships as a substitute...