AI chatbot relationships influences 2025’s Word of the Year
Cambridge Dictionary has named “parasocial” as its Word of the Year for 2025.
Francesco Kart Photo | An | Getty Images
AI chatbots, Taylor Swift and social media influencers all played a part in the decision-making Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year, 2025: “parasocial.”
Parasocial, announced as the word of the year by the global dictionary on Tuesday, refers to the connection a person feels with online personalities ranging from celebrities to podcasters and even artificial intelligence.
“A parasocial relationship is when we think we know someone or feel very close to someone we have never actually met, such as a celebrity, influencer, or someone who is famous in public life for some reason,” Simone Schnall, professor of experimental social psychology at the University of Cambridge, told CNBC Make It.
“In reality, of course, this is just a one-sided, nominal relationship,” he added.
The term was coined by sociologists at the University of Chicago in 1956. Donald Horton and Richard Wohl He discovered that people who watch television treat the actors on the screen as if they were their friends or family.
Schnall explained that “phenomenon” is well-known in our culture, but it is only now that people are using the term more widely.
“It’s been there forever, but I think in our culture now we see parasocials on steroids, because there are so many opportunities for that. There are so many people that we can be attracted to, influenced by, inspired by, for whatever reason,” he said.
One example is singer and billionaire Taylor Swift, who has a massive global fan base due to her relatable songs. Many of her fans report a deep, emotional connection with her and follow her personal life and romantic relationships.
Other examples include social media influencer and Youtuber Logan Paul, who has nearly 27 million followers on Instagram and 23 million subscribers on YouTube.
In 2018, Paul sparked worldwide outrage by posting a video showing a person dying in Japan’s Aokigahara “suicide forest.” Many of his die-hard fans defended him with fierce loyalty despite the seriousness of the content. Paul later apologized for the video.
Schnall warned there were “dangers” in following celebrities and social media influencers who share incorrect medical advice, sell bad products or encourage unethical behavior.
“Them [influencers] can cause serious harm to its followers. People who feel like they’re in this parasocial relationship can be really harmed by that,” Schnall warned.
Artificial intelligence chatbots and the culture of loneliness
The Cambridge Dictionary noted that part of the growing popularity of the word “parasocial” is due to associations with artificial intelligence chatbots.
“They’re called chatbots because we feel like we’re already chatting with someone,” Schnall said. “People may develop certain relationships, such as friendships or even romantic relationships, or at least they feel that way about it, when in reality there is no one else involved.”
And it’s not just young people. recently Survey by Vantage Point Consulting It found that 28% of more than 1,000 American adults said they had a romantic or intimate relationship with an AI.
Schnall suggested two reasons why people are turning to parasocial relationships: a global epidemic of loneliness and increased screen time.
On phones and screens, parasocial relationships are “just a click away,” so it is easier to gain instant social approval. Meanwhile, according to Schnall, chatbots are designed to make you proud.
“People tend to be lonelier than previous generations, and they spend a lot of time on screens where it’s very easy to form these parasocial relationships,” he said.
Schnall said the antidote is investing in real-life relationships because the more time you spend online, the less time you spend on in-person connections.
“The more time I spend chatting with a chatbot, the less time I probably spend chatting with a real-life human,” he added.
