The connection someone feels with a person they see on media but do not know is captured in the Cambridge Dictionary's word of the year for 2025 : 'parasocial'.

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Psychologists have observed how fandom and celebrity is being redefined in one-sided relationships

For instance, when pop star Taylor Swift and American footballer Travis Kelce announced their engagement earlier this year, many fans felt a strong connection to them despite most not having met them.

The parasocial relationships that people form with online influencers and artificial intelligence chatbots have also been highl

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