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Do you follow certain social media creators, music artists, actors, athletes, or other famous people? Are you a huge fan of particular fictional characters from a book, TV show, or movie? Perhaps you check in with them daily because you feel a connection, care about them, or just love keeping up with the minutiae of their lives.

These one-sided emotional ties to people you don't actually know (or those who don't actually exist) are called parasocial relationships. Like all relationships, they come with risks and benefits, says Arthur C. Brooks, a social scientist, best-selling author, and professor at both the Harvard Kennedy School and the Harvard Business School.

Why do we develop parasocial relationships?

Parasocial relationships tend to occur because of our natural tendency to link to others.

"Humans have evolved to thrive in groups, probably because 250,000 years ago you needed to rely on other people to survive by building social relationships. And so we become attracted to and care about people if we have a regular enough exposure to them," says Brooks.

We are all exposed regularly to tiny details about celebrities and fictional characters, watching their days unfold on social media or learning about them from a TV show or book. What hooks us is the emotional connection, especially if the person is exciting or compelling.

"That's the secret to the success of the Harry Potter book series and the TV show Breaking Bad. The writing is supposed to engage you emotionally," Brooks says. "People can form a bond even if the characters are psychopaths."

The upsides of parasocial relationships

Parasocial relationships can be a nice complement to your life. They might entertain you, inspire you, educate you, or bring you comfort. You might feel less lonely or like you're part of a tight group or a cultural moment, a feeling the shows Friends and Game of Thrones fostered for many people.

Bonding emotionally with famous or fictional people might also shape people's values. For example, children might learn lessons about right and wrong from characters they connect with on shows such as Sesame Street or Bluey. Teens or adults might feel moved to work harder if they're attached to champion athletes, or do good deeds if they admire selfless leaders.

One study of more than 300 people ages 18 to 35 even found that parasocial relationships might help reduce the stigma of mental health conditions. All participants watched one video of someone who shared personal information aimed at creating a social bond. Then, some participants also watched a video of the content creator sharing his challenges with bipolar disorder. Those who saw both videos scored lower on measures of prejudice about mental health conditions than those who only saw the first video.

The downsides of parasocial relationships

While parasocial relationships can enrich your life, these one-sided affairs can also hurt you.

Navigating parasocial relationships

A dollop of parasocial relationships in your life is fine as long as they don't crowd out real-life bonds or warp your thinking and values. But how would you know if this was becoming an issue?

Two red alerts:

Shifting from parasocial relationship to deeper connections

Parasocial relationships fill a need. Social scrolling, streaming shows, or following celebs may tamp down loneliness or offer curated moments of joy and connection. But if you're leaning too hard on these one-sided relationships, Brooks advises taking a hard look at what's missing from your life.

Forging warm connections in real life is worthwhile, though it isn't always easy. "It's a tall order for people who are shut-ins or introverted or don't have social skills, but you can start small. Have dinner with a friend. Spend more time with your family. Get more human eye contact. Touch, such as a hug, releases the bonding hormone oxytocin in the brain," Brooks suggests. "You'll care less about the characters and get what you really need."

Source: Harvard Health Publishing

At a dental appointment last month, I spotted a lead vest hanging unassumingly on the wall of the exam room as soon as I walked in. "Still there, but now obsolete," I thought.

I'd just learned about new guidelines from the American Dental Association (ADA) saying lead vests and thyroid collars that cover the neck are no longer needed during dental x-rays. But they'd been a fixture of my dental experiences — including many cavities, four root canals, a tooth extraction, and two crowns — for my entire life. What changed, and could I feel safe without the vest?

Why were lead vests used in past years?

Lead vests and thyroid collars have been worn by countless Americans during dental x-rays over the years. They've been in use for far longer than my lifetime — about 100 years. The heavy apron-like shields are placed over sensitive areas, including the chest and neck, before the x-rays are taken.

"I haven't worn a lead apron in the last 10 or 15 years — unless a dentist insists I put it on — because I know it isn't needed," says Dr. Bernard Friedland, an associate professor of oral medicine, infection, and immunity at Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

What has changed about dental x-rays?

When lead vests and thyroid collars were first recommended, x-ray technology was much less precise. But the technology has evolved significantly over the last few decades in ways that dramatically improve patient safety:

A less-recognized strike against using lead vests and thyroid collars is their ability to get in the way. They may block the primary x-ray beam, preventing dentists from capturing needed images. This quirk can lead to repeat imaging and unnecessary exposure to additional radiation. This is more likely to occur with panoramic x-rays.

The gear may also spread germs, Dr. Friedland notes. Although disinfected, it's not sterilized between uses. "There's a risk of spreading bacteria and viruses," he says. "To me, that's also an issue and another reason I don't want to use one on myself."

Who no longer needs the shields?

No one does — even children, who presumably have a long life of dental x-rays in front of them. The new recommendations apply to all patients regardless of age, health status, or pregnancy, the ADA says.

The recommendation to discontinue lead vests has been a long time in the making. In fact, the ADA isn't the first professional organization to propose it. The American Association of Physicists in Medicine did so in 2019, followed by the American College of Radiology in 2021 and the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology in 2023.

Are some people confused or concerned about the no-lead-vest policy?

Yes. The new guidelines are bound to draw confusion and fear, Dr. Friedland says. Some people may even insist on continuing to wear a lead vest during x-rays.

"A big problem is that people's perception of risk is very skewed," he says. "Some people, you'll never convince."

People are likely to feel more comfortable if the practice is uniformly adopted by dentists. However, the ability to implement this change may hinge partly on public response. And it could take a while to fully adopt.

"I think the public is going to have more say on this than dentists," Dr. Friedland says. "It might take a generation to make this change, maybe longer."

Still concerned about the new recommendations?

If you have lingering concerns about the new recommendations, talk to your dentist.

And ask if dental x-rays are necessary to proceed with your diagnosis or treatment plan. Sometimes it's possible to take fewer x-rays — such as bitewing x-rays of the upper and lower back teeth only — or to use certain types of imaging less frequently. Even with far safer x-ray conditions, dentists should be able to justify that the information from images is integral to diagnose problems or improve care, Dr. Friedland says.

It's worth noting that the dose of radiation, while far lower than in the past, varies with the type of imaging and which parts of the jaw are being imaged. For example, the digital dental x-rays mentioned above involve less radiation than conventional dental x-rays. Either panoramic dental x-rays, or 3-D dental x-rays taken with a CBCT system that rotates around the head, typically involve more radiation than conventional dental x-rays.

Whenever possible, dentists should use images taken during previous dental exams, according to the ADA. "If I don't need an x-ray, I don't get one," says Dr. Friedland. "I'm not cavalier about it. I also use technical parameters that keep the x-ray dose as low as reasonably possible."

Source: Harvard Health Publishing

U.S. equities fell at midday as several weak corporate earnings reports weighed on stocks. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all declined.

Shares of solar power companies slumped when Enphase Energy (ENPH) missed profit and sales estimates and gave weak guidance on soft European demand.

Shares of Coca-Cola (KO) dropped after the soft drink maker reported a surprising dip in unit case volumes.

McDonald's (MCD) shares tumbled as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said it was investigating a rash of sicknesses caused by E. coli in people who ate the restaurant chain's Quarter Pounder burgers. 

AT&T (T) shares were higher after the telecom firm posted better-than-expected postpaid phone net adds. 

Shares of Northern Trust (NTRS) gained after the bank reported strong results as it benefited from higher fees.

Packaging Corporation of America (PKG) shares rose as price hikes helped the manufacturer of packaging products beat profit and sales estimates. 

Oil futures slid. Gold prices came down from record highs. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note advanced. The U.S. dollar was up on the euro, pound, and yen. Most major cryptocurrencies traded lower. 

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Reno Omokri has unveiled 20 characteristics of an ideal wife material.

The list included;

1. She is Godly, not necessarily religious.She has morals.

2. You have tried to have interc%urse with her, and she always refuses, even if you offer her money.

3. You know her HIV status and have bl%%d type compatibility.

4. You know the income source behind every expensive item she has.

5. She is lovely, not s£xy.

6. She is physically attractive to you. As in, she is your spec.

7. She shares the same faith as you. Marriage outside your religion proves you do not believe your beliefs.

8. She gives you love, not romance.

9. She had never asked you to support her parents or siblings financially.

10. She does not need you for finance or anything else. She is with you because she want you.

11. You can argue with her without the argument becoming a fight.

12. She has high relevance and is not high-maintenance.

13. She has her own independent, legal and provable source of income.

14. She is submissive without being docile.

15. Her relationship does not break when you are broke.

16. Her human hair weave-on is not her most expensive asset.

17. She encourages you to save instead of taking her out to eat all the time.

18. She is not insecure and does not check your phone. If she has issues, she confronts you directly.

19. She makes an effort to get along with your mother.

20. She knows how to pray, play, slay and stay.

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