Cambridge Dictionary names “parasocial” Word of the Year 2025:
The Cambridge Dictionary has chosen “parasocial” as its Word of the Year for 2025, recognizing the growing public interest in one-sided emotional relationships that people form with celebrities, influencers, and artificial intelligence systems. This selection reflects a broader cultural shift in how people interact emotionally with figures and technologies they’ve never met, especially in an era dominated by social media and digital companionship. Parasocial refers to a one-way emotional connection that someone forms with a person or character who is unaware of their existence
