“Parasocial word of year 2025 selected by Cambridge Dictionary highlights one-way emotional relationships in the digital age, influencing social trends and current affairs for exams.”
The Cambridge University Press’s Dictionary Selects “Parasocial” as Word of the Year 2025
The Cambridge Dictionary has announced “parasocial” as its Word of the Year for 2025, recognising the growing significance of one‑way emotional relationships in our digital age. According to the announcement, the term reflects how people increasingly form strong emotional bonds with celebrities, social‑media influencers, fictional characters — and even artificial intelligence systems — despite no direct personal interaction.
The dictionary noted a sharp rise in searches for “parasocial” in 2025, coinciding with increased attention on virtual companions, influencer culture, and public debates around AI chatbots.
Defining “Parasocial” in the Contemporary Era
The term “parasocial” was first coined in 1956 by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl to describe the phenomenon of television viewers developing emotional connections with on‑screen personalities to whom they had no direct access.
In its modern update, the Cambridge Dictionary includes newer contexts: virtual assistants, AI companions, influencers on social platforms — all of which can foster what the dictionary calls “parasocial bonds”.
Why the Selection Matters and How It Reflects Social Trends
By selecting “parasocial” as Word of the Year, the Cambridge Dictionary is highlighting wider cultural trends: our increasing digital lives, the rising role of influencers, and the blending of technology and emotional/psychological attachment. For students of society, media studies, psychology, and digital culture — and relevant for competitive exams with sections on current affairs, social issues, and digital literacy — this is significant.
The announcement also reminds us that language evolves: what once was niche sociological jargon has now entered everyday vocabulary, indicating how real‑world behaviours shift.
Implications for Digital Culture and Mental Health
Experts underline that parasocial relationships can have positive and negative aspects. On the positive side, they can offer emotional support, role models or even comfort during isolation. On the negative side, such relationships may replace real‑world ties, create unrealistic expectations, or lead to emotional dependency on virtual/one‑way connections.
In competitive exam contexts — whether for banking, railways, civil service, defence or teaching posts — awareness of evolving social trends and the language used to describe them is valuable. It aids in sections such as general awareness, contemporary social issues and media literacy, equipping candidates to address questions that probe behavioural, technological and sociological change.
Moving Forward: What Candidates Should Take Away
Students should note that the selection of “parasocial” underscores two key ideas: firstly, the significance of digital behaviour and emotional ecosystems in modern life; secondly, that language evolves in step with culture, technology and society. As future teachers, officers, bankers, civil servants or defence personnel, being conversant with such terms helps craft informed responses to scenario‑based questions and essay‑type prompts.
Why This News is Important
Connecting Language and Social Change
The announcement of “parasocial” as the Word of the Year connects two domains: linguistics (the evolution of vocabulary) and social behaviour (how people relate in the digital age). For government exam aspirants, this intersection matters because many questions in general awareness or current affairs require understanding of how technology, society and behaviour evolve together.
Relevance Across Competitive Exams
From banking to civil service to teaching and defence, exam syllabi increasingly include questions on digital literacy, media trends, psychological wellness and social changes. The concept of parasocial relationships ties into mental health, media consumption, influencer culture, AI ethics and more — all of which can be fodder for objective‑type, descriptive or essay‑based questions.
Preparing for Contemporary Issues
Competent candidates must go beyond rote memory of facts; they must grasp broader patterns. The selection of “parasocial” emphasises that ‘new‑age’ phenomena (AI chatbots as companions, influencer culture) are not just niche topics but are entering mainstream discourse and therefore can appear in exam questions. Understanding the term helps students stay ahead.
Implication for Media Literacy & Policy
Public policy, media regulation and social welfare programmes increasingly recognise the impact of digital behaviour on well‑being. For instance, in teacher recruitment or civil service roles, being aware of issues like parasocial attachment can inform educational strategies, social welfare measures or youth‑oriented programmes. Thus, knowledge of this term has practical value.
Enhancing Critical Thinking
Finally, this news prompts students to reflect critically: What is the role of one‑way relationships in modern society? How does technology change human interaction? For exams that test reasoning, ethics, social awareness or governance, this news offers a rich case study. Understanding why “parasocial” gained ground trains candidates to link vocabulary with societal trends.
Historical Context
The term “parasocial” was introduced by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl in 1956 in the context of television viewers developing an illusion of friendship or emotional relationship with on‑screen personalities, despite no reciprocal interaction. Over decades, as media evolved from broadcast television to internet, social media and artificial intelligence, the nature of these one‑way relationships evolved.
In the 2000s, researchers started applying the concept to social media influencers: followers often consider their favourite influencer as a “friend” despite no direct interaction. With the rise of smartphones, live‑streaming, virtual reality and AI chatbots, the idea of parasocial relationships has expanded further to include not just human celebrities but virtual characters and even intelligent assistants. The Cambridge Dictionary’s choice in 2025 reflects this modern evolution of the term, acknowledging its relevance in the era of social networks and AI.
Key Takeaways from “Parasocial Named Word of the Year 2025”
| S. No. | Key Takeaway |
|---|---|
| 1 | The Cambridge Dictionary selected “parasocial” as its Word of the Year for 2025. |
| 2 | “Parasocial” refers to one‑way emotional relationships that people form with public figures, influencers or AI systems who are unaware of their existence. |
| 3 | The concept was first introduced in 1956 by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl. |
| 4 | The selection reflects the increasing significance of digital behaviour, influencer culture and AI companions in modern society. |
| 5 | Understanding this term is relevant for competitive exams covering current affairs, media literacy, social trends and digital culture. |
FAQs
1. What does “parasocial” mean?
“Parasocial” refers to a one‑way emotional relationship in which a person feels a bond or connection with a public figure, influencer, fictional character, or AI entity, despite no real reciprocal interaction.
2. Who coined the term “parasocial”?
The term was coined in 1956 by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl to describe how television viewers develop emotional connections with on-screen personalities.
3. Why was “parasocial” chosen as Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year 2025?
It was selected due to the rising significance of one-way emotional relationships in the digital era, including interactions with social media influencers, virtual characters, and AI chatbots.
4. How is the concept of parasocial relationships relevant for government exams?
It is important for current affairs, media literacy, social awareness, and psychology sections in exams like UPSC, PSCs, banking, railways, teaching, and defence positions.
5. What are the positive and negative effects of parasocial relationships?
Positive effects include emotional support, comfort, and role modeling. Negative effects include social isolation, unrealistic expectations, and emotional dependency on virtual connections.
6. When was the term parasocial first used in academic research?
It was first introduced in 1956 in the context of television viewing studies by Horton and Wohl.
7. Can AI entities also create parasocial relationships?
Yes, AI companions, chatbots, and virtual assistants can foster parasocial bonds, as users often develop emotional connections with them.
8. How has parasocial behavior evolved over time?
Initially related to television personalities, it now extends to social media influencers, AI chatbots, and virtual companions, reflecting changes in technology and media consumption.
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