Can you imagine knowing what the inside of someone’s house looks like when you have never met them? Can you imagine walking up to a complete stranger in order to comment on their appearance and clothing? Can you imagine loving or idolising an individual who does not, and will never know, that you even exist?
Each one of these scenarios may seem extraordinarily bizarre when described out of context. However, millions of people engage in all of these behaviours every single day, on a platform called the internet. Not only are these experiences quite normal, but they are often enacted and experienced by extremely young people who post content or interact with other people’s content.
