Society / Media & Culture
The Cambridge Dictionary has selected ‘parasocial’ as the Word of the Year for 2025. The term describes the one-sided emotional connection people form with celebrities, influencers, or public figures they have never met—a relationship shaped largely by digital media and constant online visibility.
Its selection reflects rising concerns about how virtual familiarity, algorithm-driven content, and influencer culture are deepening these one-way bonds, often blurring boundaries between real and perceived intimacy.
MCQ
What does the term parasocial primarily refer to?
- A one-sided emotional connection with a famous person
- A mutual friendship formed online
- A paid subscription-based social interaction
- A psychological condition requiring therapy
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