Social
Parasocial
A one-sided emotional bond a person forms with someone they have never actually met — a YouTuber, streamer, influencer, or AI chatbot. The fan feels a genuine connection; the other person does not know they exist. Cambridge Dictionary named it its 2025 Word of the Year.
How kids use it
A teen might mourn deeply when a favorite streamer quits, defend them online as if defending a real friend, or spend hours watching their content as a substitute for in-person connection. The same attachment can form with AI chatbots designed to behave like close friends.
Is “Parasocial” something to worry about?
No — "Parasocial" is ordinary 2026 teen vocabulary, not a warning sign. Knowing it just makes you harder to talk past.
- Use it slightly wrong at dinner. You’ll get an eye-roll and a free vocabulary lesson.
- If you’re seeing it alongside apps you don’t recognize, run the 30-second check Is it safe? checker →