A parasocial relationship is a connection felt by someone with a famous person they don’t know. This term was chosen as the Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year. It was first coined in 1956 by sociologists studying TV viewers’ relationships with on-screen personalities. The concept gained popularity through social media, leading to new examples like fans treating AI bots as friends or confidants.
Influenced by reality TV shows and podcasting, people are forming strong emotional bonds with celebrities and even digital entities. The term has become widely used after a YouTube star blocked an obsessive fan, sparking interest in the word. A dictionary editor explained that they don’t judge the validity of words, but rather consider if it remains relevant over time.
The Cambridge Dictionary also introduced new words like “skibidi”, “delulu”, and “tradwife” to its collection this year. To stay updated on local news, follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgmv877746o