This paper analyzes the case study of entertainer “McKiera” (pseudonym or real figure) to explore how lifestyle vloggers and streamers weaponize intimacy. Using Horton & Wohl’s parasocial framework, we argue that the “relatable best friend” persona lowers audience defenses, enabling patterns of gaslighting, financial exploitation (e.g., Patreon/manipulative merch), and boundary violations. Findings suggest that entertainment platforms lack accountability mechanisms for non-sexual, psychological abuse.
Contributes to media studies and critical criminology by showing how entertainment formats become abuse enablement tools. facial abuse mckiera
Fandom toxicity, survivor silencing, parasocial labor, influencer accountability, McKiera case study. If “Abuse McKiera” is a specific real person: You should verify the correct spelling and check if they have been the subject of news articles, court records, or documented survivor testimony (e.g., on YouTube docu-series like Tea Spillers or D’Angelo Wallace ). If so, your paper could be a single-case study in a journal like New Media & Society or Journal of Interpersonal Violence . Suggested Research Question for Your Paper: How does the genre of lifestyle and entertainment content (vlogs, challenges, “storytimes”) enable, aestheticize, or obscure patterns of psychological, emotional, or financial abuse when the content creator is the alleged abuser? This paper analyzes the case study of entertainer
Parasocial abuse, digital exploitation, lifestyle influencer ethics, online grooming, McKiera case. Paper Idea #2: Lifestyle Entertainment as a Cover – The Normalization of Coercive Control in “A Day in the Life” Content Focus: How the genre of “lifestyle entertainment” (vlogs, home tours, couple content) can hide patterns of domestic or interpersonal abuse. Contributes to media studies and critical criminology by
“You’re My Best Friend, So Trust Me”: Parasocial Relationships as a Vehicle for Covert Abuse in the Digital Lifestyle Economy
Coercive control, lifestyle media, digital aesthetics, image-based gaslighting, McKiera. Paper Idea #3: The Audience as Accomplice – Fan Toxicity and the Silencing of Abuse Survivors in Entertainment Fandoms Focus: The role of fan communities in protecting abusive entertainers and attacking victims.