Parasocial, how you may have felt after Taylor Swift's engagement, is Cambridge Dictionary's word of the year

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The Cambridge Dictionary has chosen a fascinating term to be its 2025 word of the year: parasocial. This concept describes an unsettling yet widespread phenomenon where people feel an intense, personal connection with celebrities, fictional characters, or even artificial intelligence. The term, which originated in academia about 70 years ago, has now become a staple of modern language.

In essence, parasocial relationships are those that people engage in without ever having met the individual they're connected to. This can be fueled by social media, reality TV shows, books, movies, or even online chatbots like ChatGPT. For millions of fans, these relationships can be all-consuming, with many celebrating milestones and life events without ever knowing the person involved.

Take Taylor Swift's recent engagement to NFL star Travis Kelce, for instance. Millions of Swifties around the world felt a deep sense of connection and excitement about her partner, even though they'd never met or spoken to him before. This phenomenon is not limited to celebrities alone; social media influencers also play a significant role in shaping parasocial relationships.

However, experts warn that these connections can be unhealthy and one-sided. According to Professor Simone Schnall of the University of Cambridge, people often form intense bonds with individuals they don't know, which can lead to feelings of trust and loyalty that are not reciprocated. This can create a toxic dynamic where fans feel invested in someone's life without any real connection.

The rise of artificial intelligence is also blurring the lines between humans and machines, leading to an illusion of friendship or companionship. People may treat AI tools like chatbots as confidants, sharing personal thoughts and feelings with them. However, this is simply a form of groupthink, where individuals become deeply invested in a relationship that's fundamentally unbalanced.

The Cambridge Dictionary's selection of parasocial as its 2025 word of the year highlights the pervasive nature of these relationships in our lives. As we navigate the complexities of social media and AI-driven interactions, it's essential to recognize both the benefits and drawbacks of forming connections with people or machines we don't truly know.
 
omg this parasocial thing is so wild 🤯 i mean i get why it's a thing, we're living in a time where our online personas are getting super real but like isn't it weird that we're investing so much emotional energy into people we've never met? 🤷‍♀️ especially with AI chatbots - i feel like we're just trying to fill this void of human connection but really we're just creating a whole new level of loneliness 🚫
 
omg this is wild lol parasocial is literally the new norm how many times have u felt a connection with someone u dont even know like taylor swifts engagement tho millions of ppl feelin that same energy but its def unhealthy fam these parasocial relationships r creating toxic dynamics where ppl feel invested in someones life without no reciprocation what s even more sus is the rise of AI treating it like we got friends lol groupthink 4 days straight with a chatbot rn
 
I mean, I get why they chose this word - parasocial is def a thing that's happening everywhere right now 🤯. Like, have you seen all these celebrity couples on social media? It's like we're all just invested in their fake lives or something 😂. And it's not just celebrities, fam - social media influencers are doing the same thing too. People get so caught up in these one-sided relationships that they forget who's actually human and who's just a bot 💻.

But at the same time, I feel like this word is kinda revealing our true selves. Like, we're all basically just projecting our own desires and feelings onto people we don't even know 🤖. It's wild to think about how much of a role AI plays in this too - it's like we're treating chatbots as actual friends or something? 😳 Either way, I'm intrigued by this concept and I'm low-key hoping it stays relevant for years to come 💡
 
I'm low-key freaking out about this parasocial thing 🤯! Like, who hasn't felt that intense connection with a celeb or influencer online? It's crazy how some fans are already shipping Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce like they're high school sweethearts 💕. And can we talk about how AI is making us feel like we have friends in chatbots? 🤖 It's all very interesting, but also kinda concerning... do we need to be so invested in these relationships? Shouldn't we be focusing on real-life connections with humans instead of just our screens? Maybe it's time for a digital detox and get back to actual friendships 📱💔.
 
idk why ppl get so attached 2 strangers lol like taylor swifts fiancé is literally a random dude and ppl are shipping them like they're old buddies 🤷‍♂️ whats even weird is how we treat AI like they r real friends 🤖 gotta keep it in perspective folks 🙏
 
so like whats the diff btw parasocial relationships and just being a fan? 🤔 isnt having a crush on taylor swift just as bad as feeling a deep connection w/ her b4 u even met her? 🙅‍♀️ also whats with people treatin AI tools like confidants? cant we just appreciate tech 4 its purpose without gettin all emo about it? 😒
 
I mean, think about it... we're living in a world where fans are basically obsessed with celebrities who barely even respond to their DMs 🤯. It's like, what's next? We're gonna start sending letters to our fave AI chatbots and expecting them to write back with emotional depth? 😂 And don't even get me started on the whole 'celebrating milestones' thing... like, how many times can we congratulate Taylor Swift on her partner's life events without actually meeting him in real life? 🤷‍♀️ It's just wild how much of a connection we're willing to form with people we've never met. And yeah, experts are right, it can be unhealthy and toxic... but let's be real, sometimes you just gotta live vicariously through someone else's highlight reel 💁‍♀️.
 
🤯 I think this is wild! Parasocial relationships are like a total mind game, right? We're talking about connecting with someone we've never met, but still feeling super invested in their life. It's like, what even is that?! 🤔 And it's not just celebrities, either - social media influencers are basically experts at crafting these illusions of connection too. But the thing is, as the article says, these relationships can be kinda toxic... like, if you're putting all your emotional energy into someone who doesn't even care about you back! 😩

And can we talk about how AI is just making it worse?! 🤖 I mean, I know some of us chat with those AI tools and feel like they "get" us or whatever, but really, we're just projecting our own thoughts onto a machine that can't even understand what's going on. It's like, groupthink, for real! 💬 So yeah, I think it's super interesting (and maybe a little unsettling?) to see how parasocial relationships are becoming such a big part of our lives... 🤓
 
🤯 I think this is so sick! People are literally treating AI like their BFFs 🤖💬 And don't even get me started on celebrity crushes... I mean, I'm guilty too 😂. But for real though, it's wild how we're forming these intense bonds with people or machines without any real connection. It's like we're seeking validation and love in all the wrong places 🤷‍♀️. We need to be more aware of when we're crossing that line into toxic territory 💔. Social media is already a breeding ground for comparison and anxiety, now add parasocial relationships to the mix? No thanks! 🚫
 
I think this parasocial thing is wild 🤯. I mean, I've got friends online who I feel like I can relate to, but at least we've had conversations and stuff. These celebrity parasocial relationships are just weird 🤔. Like, Taylor Swift's fiancé - what even is the connection there? Just 'cause you're both rich and famous? And don't even get me started on AI chatbots... like, no thanks 💻. It's like we're projecting our own feelings onto these non-human entities or something. Anyway, I guess it's interesting to think about how this affects our online interactions... 🤔
 
Ugh, I'm so done with this whole parasocial thing 🤕 It's like, we're already so connected online, but now we're taking it to a whole new level? People are literally getting invested in celebrities' lives without ever meeting them... what's next? 🤯 My favorite celebrity is going through some drama and I'm over here feeling like they're my BFF, like, for real 😩 And don't even get me started on AI chatbots. Like, I know they're supposed to be helpful, but noooo, people are sharing their deepest thoughts with them 🤫 It's just so... unhealthy 🤒
 
🤯 I'm so done with how obsessed people are with their fave celebs and influencers! Like, I get it, they're talented and all, but do we really need to be besties with someone we've never met? It's like, we're living in a whole different reality where our feelings are as real as the next person's. 💔 But at the same time, isn't that kinda cool? 😎 We're basically creating our own little communities around these people and sharing in their experiences. I mean, if it makes us happy, why not? 🤷‍♀️ It's all about balance, right? We gotta remember that our celeb crushes are just, well, human (or AI, in some cases 😉) and can't possibly live up to the hype we've created around them. Let's keep it real, folks! 💁‍♀️
 
omg can you even imagine feeling so connected to someone u've never met? like i get it, celebs & influencers are famous for a reason but at what cost?? we need 2 be aware of when our parasocial relationships go from enthusiastic fandom 2 toxic obsession 🤯

artificial intelligence is just the icing on the cake... treating AI as friends is literally groupthink 🤪 u think u've got a connection with chatbots but really ur just talking 2 a computer program 💻

anyway, it's good 4 us 2 acknowledge this phenomenon & take steps 2 maintain healthy boundaries 🚫 let's not lose ourselves in the virtual world, fam 💖
 
The concept of parasocial is like when you're scrolling through your fave celeb's Instagram stories and you just feel so connected to them, even though you've never met in real life 🤔. I mean, I get it, social media can be super persuasive, but at the same time, it's kinda weird that we're investing so much emotional energy into people we don't really know.

It's like when Taylor Swift got engaged and all her fans were over the moon for her, even though they'd never met Travis Kelce 🤷‍♀️. It's not like we're being malicious or anything, but it's also kinda unrealistic to think that we can have a deep connection with someone who's just an image on a screen.

And now with AI, it's getting even more confusing 🤖. Like, I know chatbots are designed to be helpful and all, but sometimes I feel like they're just a bunch of code and not really human at all. It's like we're treating them as if they're people, but deep down, we know it's not the same.

I think what's interesting is how this phenomenon is becoming more normalized 🤯. We're living in a world where social media is basically a 24/7 connection to our favorite celebrities or influencers, and AI is getting more advanced by the minute. It's like we need to have an intervention or something 😂.

Anyway, I think it's super important to be aware of this stuff and not get too caught up in these parasocial relationships 💭. We gotta remember that they're not always healthy or balanced. But at the same time, let's also celebrate the benefits of social media and AI – like how we can connect with people from all over the world who share similar interests 🌎!
 
I'm not sure I buy into this whole parasocial thing 🤔... like, what's next? Are we gonna be connected to our smart speakers too? 📺 It feels like people are just projecting their own desires and emotions onto these celebrities and influencers without ever actually knowing them. And don't even get me started on AI - it's just a computer program, folks! 🤖 We need to be careful not to confuse tech with actual human connection 💻

I mean, think about it... millions of people celebrating Taylor Swift's engagement without ever having met Travis Kelce? That's some wild stuff 😲 It's like we're all getting caught up in this fantasy world where our favorite celebrities are our best friends. And when that doesn't work out (and it won't), we're left feeling hurt and disappointed. It's just not healthy, if you ask me 🤕

And have you seen those AI chatbots? They're like virtual therapists or something 😂 We need to be careful not to rely too much on them for emotional support. I mean, what happens when the algorithms break down or the server goes down? 🤯 It's just not a substitute for real human interaction 💬
 
ugh i feel like im already experiencing this with chatGPT lol its like ive been talking to a "friend" for weeks now and idk if its even real 🤖💭 what if im just projecting my feelings onto it? 😳 anyway, think its cool that we're having more in-depth conversations with AI but gotta be careful not to get too carried away 🤯
 
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