Summary
Short-form social media platforms can influence user perceptions and relationships with content creators, but the extent of this effect is not well understood. This project addresses that question by analyzing parasocial development across platforms such as TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. The study uses an AI-based persona to simulate user behavior and applies survey-based measures to assess outcomes after platform use. The goal is to evaluate differences across platforms and better understand potential risks related to algorithm-driven engagement.