Creators With Massive Followings Report Feeling Trapped by Their Own Audiences

Interviews with 54 creators—including illustrators, musicians, YouTubers and Instagrammers—revealed that fame in today’s $300 billion attention economy often brings a hidden psychological cost dubbed “audience entanglement.” Participants described feeling imprisoned by audience expectations, obsessively tracking likes and comments, and being unable to absorb even praise without distress. One creator likened the experience to a “chamber of despair,” while another recounted how fan messages about personal crises became overwhelming.

A few managed to establish clear limits and restore a sense of self through “entanglement management strategies.” The author warns that as cultivating an audience becomes essential in fields like journalism, politics and academia, many more workers may face similar pressures, highlighting the need for guidance on handling large online followings.