Is this wrong at all? I like YouTube, particularly creators like Gamers Nexus/ Hardware Unboxed for example, and like it when they engage in discussions on reddit or discord.
The internet connects people, sometimes 1:1, sometimes 1:N.
It's wrong when it deliberately creates a promise of closeness that is completely illusionary.
A Youtuber asking for comments they may or may not have the time to read is one thing, a camgirl writing 200 subscribers "Haven't seen you in a while, touching myself now imagining your dick inside me" is a very different thing.
I would argue that the same thing happens on Twitch, a completely fake "emotional" bond with your subscribers is created by live interacting with them. You also have whales tipping thousands of dollars.
It's "wrong" (in the sense we're discussing here, that is, morally) if the invitation to engagement isn't an honest desire to communicate with viewers, but merely a marketing strategy to lure in more viewers to maximize ad spend.
The internet connects people, sometimes 1:1, sometimes 1:N.