Today, the Cambridge Dictionary, an organization of the editorial and evaluation department of the University of Cambridge, has chosen the word of the year, That is, the one that has had the most impact on culture, conversation and language during 2025.
The term summarizes a behavior that has increased in recent times, thanks to the popularization of social networks and the television.
Although it was created in the 1950s, it recently went viral due to influence who had characters like him youtuber Speed and the music star Taylor Swiftwhom the English institution itself recognizes as the promoters of the concept.
What is the enigmatic word of the year and its particular meaning
Today, Tuesday November 18, he Cambridge Dictionary reported that he chose the concept «parasocial» like the word of the year.
According to its own definition, it is an adjective «that implies or relates to a connection someone feels between themselves and a famous person they don’t knowa character from a book, movie, television series, etc. or artificial intelligence.»
The trend towards relationships with artificial intelligence is growing. Photo: YT video captureThe term attempts to account for the growing number of cases in which fans become fanatic—and may even fall in love—with their real idols, whom they have only seen on social networks or in the media.
In addition, it contemplates other types of links, even stranger, but which are also increasing: the relationships between a person and some type of bot o figure controlled by intelligent algorithms.
Colin McIntosh, one of the institution’s members, explained: «The term parasocial captures the zeitgeist of 2025. Millions of people are involved in parasocial relationships; many more are simply intrigued by their rise. The data reflects this, with the Cambridge Dictionary website recording spikes in searches for ‘parasocial’.»
“The language around parasocial phenomena is evolving rapidly, as technology, society and culture change and mutate: from celebrities to chatbots«he added, emphasizing the considerable increase in this type of relationships due to the changes produced in the world.
For its part, Simone Schnall, Professor of Experimental Social Psychology at the Cambridge Universitystated: “The rise of parasocial relationships has redefined the fan phenomenon, fame and, with AI, the way ordinary people interact online.”
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What does the term «parasocial» mean?
He also explained the reason why these types of relationships are becoming more frequent.
«As trust in traditional media is lost, people turn to public figures as authorities and, by spending hours consuming their content, they develop parasocial bonds, treating them more like close friends, family or cult leaders. When a influencer “He has so many followers, people consider him trustworthy,” he said in an interview for the Dictionary.
This creates the feeling that fans know those with whom they have parasocial relationships, can trust them, and even go to extreme forms of loyalty. However, the bond it is completely unilateral, because only from one side are there manifestations of affection.
How Speed and Taylor Swift influenced the concept to become popular
Despite its current fame, the term «parasocial» was first coined decades ago, in academia.
Its origin dates back to 1956when sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl, from the University of Chicago, used it to account for the relationships that viewers formed with the characters who appeared on screen, similar to those they formed with real family and friends.
Scholars noted how the rapid expansion of television brought actors’ faces directly into viewers’ homes, making them familiar figures in people’s lives.
However, the spread of the concept did occur in recent years, thanks to social networks, which offer another channel of interaction, but also thanks to the impressive influence of some celebrities.
According to what was published by the Cambridge Dictionary on its website, psychologists began to pay more attention to this term when, in August 2024, the famous American singer Chappell Roan criticized the “disturbing behavior” of some of his fans.
Influencer Speed popularized the word «parasocial.» Photo: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 2.0)However, also according to the institution, the skyrocketing increase in the search for this word occurred in June of this year, after the streamer Darren Jason Watkins, better known as Speed, he blocked an obsessive follower because he considered him his “parasocial number 1”.
Despite all of the above, the Dictionary attributed maximum responsibility regarding the increase in relationships of this type, and therefore the term that refers to these, to Taylor Swift, arguing that many people have established a bond like this with the singer.
«Millions of fans identified with Taylor Swift’s confessional lyrics about dating, heartbreak and desire, giving rise to what psychologists describe as ‘parasocial’ bonds with the stars,» the British organization wrote on its page.
She also held her husband responsible Travis Kelce, Since when both announced their engagement «many fans felt a deep connection with the singer and the American football player, although most had never met them.»
Swift and Kelce’s wedding drove her followers crazy. Photo: IG (TaylorSwift)Finally, Cambridge also explained the influence of the advance of artificial intelligence about these types of links.
«The emergence of parasocial relationships with bots of AI made people treat ChatGPT as a confidant, friend or even romantic partner. «This generated emotionally significant—and in some cases problematic—connections for users, as well as concerns about the consequences,» he explained.
