Slang dossier
Parasocial
Pronounced pair-uh-SOH-shul
A one-sided sense of relationship with a creator, celebrity or fictional character who does not know the viewer personally. Enjoying a creator does not automatically mean an unhealthy attachment.
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In a sentence
How it sounds
Illustrative examples
- “I follow every update, but I know the relationship is parasocial.”
- “The livestream makes fans feel like close friends.”
Where teens use it
The habitat
Fandom discussion, creator reactions and conversations about the boundaries between an audience and a friend.
Parent briefing
What parents should know
Ask whether admiration is affecting spending, privacy or real-life relationships. A creator’s friendly address does not create a private friendship, and money or personal information should not be required to prove loyalty.
Keep decoding
Related terms
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