Cambridge Dictionary named “parasocial” as Word of the Year for 2025.
Francesco Carta Fotografo | Moment | Getty Images
AI chatbots, Taylor Swift, and social media influencers all played a part in deciding Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year, 2025: “parasocial.”
Parasocial — revealed by the global dictionary on Tuesday as its word of the year — refers to the connection a person feels to an online personality ranging from celebrities to podcasters, and even artificial intelligence.
“Parasocial relationship is when we think we know someone, or we feel very close to someone who’s in fact, a person we’ve never met, like a celebrity, an influencer, or somebody in public life who’s famous for some reason,” Simone Schnall, professor of experimental social psychology at the University of Cambridge, told CNBC Make It.
“In reality, of course, it’s only a one-sided, so-called relationship,” she added.
The term originated in 1956 when University of Chicago sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl found that people who watched television were treating the actors on-screen like friends or family.
Schnall explained that the “phenomenon” is well-known in our culture, but it’s only now that people are using the term more commonly.
“It’s been there forever, but I think in our culture, we now see parasocials on steroids, simply because there are so many opportunities for it. There are so many people who, for whatever reason, we can be interested in and fascinated by, inspired by,” she said.
One example is singer and billionaire Taylor Swift who has an intense global fanbase due to her relatable songs. Many of her fan report having a deep, emotional connection with her and keep up with her personal life and romantic relationships.
Other examples include social media influencer and Youtuber Logan Paul who has around 27 million followers on Instagram and 23 million subscribers on YouTube.
In 2018, Paul posted a video showing a deceased person in Japan’s Aokigahara “suicide forest,” sparking global outrage. Many of his die‑hard fans defended him, showing fierce loyalty despite the seriousness of the content. Paul later apologized for the video.
Schnall warned there are “dangers” in following celebrities and social media influencers who might share incorrect medical advice, sell bad products, or promote unethical behaviour.
“They [influencers] could do some serious harm to their followers. The people who feel they’re in that parasocial relationship, they could really be harmed by that,” Schnall warned.
AI chatbots and loneliness culture
Cambridge Dictionary referenced that part of the increasing popularity of the word “parasocial” stems from relationships being formed with AI chatbots.
“They’re called chatbots because we feel like we’re chatting with someone already,” Schnall said. “People can develop certain relationships, like a friendship or even romantic relationship, or at least, that’s how they feel about it, when of course in reality, there is no one else involved.”
And it’s not just teens. A recent survey by Vantage Point Counselling of over 1,000 American adults found that 28% said they have had a romantic or intimate relationship with an AI.
Schnall offered two reasons why people are turning to parasocial relationships: a global loneliness epidemic and increased screentime.
On phones and screens, parasocial relationships are “just a click away” so it’s easier to get immediate social approval. Meanwhile, chatbots are designed to flatter you, per Schnall.
“People tend to be more lonely than in previous generations, and they spend so much time on their screens where these parasocial relationships are very easy to establish,” she said.
The antidote, Schnall said is investing in real-life relationships because the more time you spend online, the less time you spend pursuing in-person connections.
“The more time I spend chatting with a chatbot, the less time I probably spent chatting with a real life person,” she added.
