Relationships between influencers and their fans are inherently problematic, experts say

• Several influencers have faced criticism for past online and offline relationships with fans.
• James Charles was recently accused of sending explicit photos to a minor.
• Romantic relationships between celebrities and their fans always have a stark power dynamic.

YouTube star James Charles has faced allegations of inappropriate behavior with fans since late February after he was accused of "grooming" a 16-year-old boy.

Charles denied wrongdoing by saying the fan lied about his age and sent Charles suggestive images first, to which he "flirted back." Since then, other accusers have come forward with allegations that Charles hasn't addressed.

The claims highlight a new phenomenon involving Hollywood's new class of 20-something powerbrokers. Through social media, influencers have unfettered access to a pool of eager fans, and in some cases, this has resulted in sexual relationships, virtually or physically.

Regardless of age, experts say the power dynamic between an influencer and fan in this situation presents uncomfortable questions of consent and vulnerability.

Experts say the power dynamic in an influencer-fan relationship can be similar to a boss-subordinate one

The power an influencer can hold over their fans is similar to a boss-employee relationship, experts told Insider.

Psychologist and sexual violence prevention expert Dr. Elizabeth L. Jeglic, who is a professor of psychology at John Jay College in New York, told Insider there needs to be a consideration of the responsibility celebrities have, and whether the misuse of it can inadvertently lead to predatory behavior.

"I don't necessarily think these people go into it wanting it to be grooming or sexually coercive," she said. "But I think because of the innate power differential, that's ultimately what transpires."

She said in a boss-employee relationship, age is irrelevant, which is also the case in celebrity-fan dynamics.

"You can be the same age as your boss or even older than your boss, but they have the power over you," she said. "So it's just not appropriate to have those kinds of relationships."

While the influencer may see nothing wrong with the seemingly consensual behavior, the fan may be acting out of being star-struck and craving their attention. If the influencer holds a status that a romantic partner perceives as better-than and unattainable, then they may be better off assuming any sexual contact between them would be inappropriate.

Jeglic said this is a whole new dynamic that's been born out of the internet age, and experts are still trying to figure out the best way to tackle the issues it raises. The influencer or celebrity may be blind to the dynamic because they have not learned what boundaries they should or should not cross, often because they are young themselves.

"Becoming a celebrity can happen overnight in the YouTube world or in the TikTok world," said Jeglic. "Nobody is giving these people lessons in this, they don't go to HR training. There is no HR."

Influencers and their fans build one-sided parasocial relationships

YouTubers and TikTok stars are much more accessible than traditional celebrities ever were. Anyone can contact them by direct messages on social media, whereas before the internet, interactions with famous people were limited to in-person meet-and-greets or sending fan mail.

Child and adolescent psychologist Dr. Katherine Williams, the founding director of the Anxiety & OCD Clinic at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego, told Insider that direct messaging is "as easy as going to the refrigerator to get food now."

"If you're feeling lonely, it's so easy to then fall prey to messaging back and forth with TikTok stars," she said. "So I do think that it's problematic because they're often not real-life-based relationships."

The bond that's built between an internet star and their audience is often referred to as a parasocial relationship - the faux intimacy of the influencer revealing their lives through a screen gives the impression of trust between the subject and viewer. This can be problematic, Jeglic said, because of the weighted power dynamic already present in the fan-influencer relationship.

Jeglic said fans may assume these influencers will never hurt or betray them because they feel like they know the person on the screen, and thus they may be more susceptible to abuse.

"They get this automatic trust because they're on YouTube or because they're on TikTok and they have this following, whether they deserve it or not," she said. "You feel like this person wouldn't hurt me because I know them. I see them every day."

Influencers caught talking inappropriately with underage fans can face serious legal trouble

Influencers forming relationships with fans becomes an even more complicated (and illegal) dynamic if the fan is underage. The responsibility for these relationships always lies with the adult - ignorance of someone's age isn't a defense in California. Influencers who have been exchanging sexual content with minors can face serious legal trouble.

For example, Tony Lopez, along with the founders of his former TikToker collective The Hype House, is currently being sued for sexual battery and emotional distress, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ.

James Charles, meanwhile, said in his Notes app apology that he did send and receive sexually explicit content from an underaged fan, explaining that the fan told Charles that he was 18 years old - not 16. Charles said he plans to ask for identification or a passport in the future to verify a fan's age and identity.

Becoming a social media star comes with a responsibility that many young people may not yet fully understand. But experts say that doesn't mean they can act without consequences.

Social media stars are the biggest celebrities of the younger generation. Jeglic said this is something influencers need to consider, or one bad decision could haunt them for the rest of their lives.

"People are looking up to them," she said. "So if they are engaging in this type of behavior, what kind of a role model are they being?"