The Cambridge Dictionary has officially declared 'parasocial' as its Word of the Year for 2025, capturing a global phenomenon that's particularly relevant in Australia's vibrant celebrity culture.
What Exactly Are Parasocial Relationships?
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, 'parasocial' describes 'a connection that someone feels between themselves and a famous person they do not personally know'. The term dates back to 1956 when University of Chicago sociologists first observed television viewers forming these one-sided relationships with on-screen personalities.
Professor Simone Schnall, an expert in experimental social psychology at the University of Cambridge, believes this choice perfectly reflects our times. 'The rise of parasocial relationships has redefined fandom and celebrity,' she explains, noting how many people now feel they genuinely 'know' celebrities and influencers despite never having met them.
The Australian Perspective on Modern Fandom
Australian columnist Ian Warden recently explored his own experiences with parasocial dynamics, contrasting his admiration for operatic superstar Danielle de Niese with the more casual relationships many fans have with figures like Taylor Swift.
'Do I imagine I have a parasocial relationship with Danielle de Niese like the one so many fans have with Taylor Swift?' Warden ponders. 'I would love to feel trendily, tenderly embraced by the 2025 zeitgeist. It is tragic to be estranged from a zeitgeist.'
Warden describes his recent experience watching de Niese perform in Bizet's Carmen at Melbourne's Regent Theatre as transformative, yet distinguishes his feelings from typical parasocial connections. 'My feelings for my heroes and heroines involve a kind of awe, a reverence, something far more akin to discipleship than to mateship,' he notes.
Why This Matters in Today's Celebrity Culture
Colin McIntosh of the Cambridge Dictionary emphasises that 'parasocial captures the 2025 zeitgeist'. Millions of people worldwide engage in these relationships, while many others find the phenomenon intriguing.
The dictionary's research indicates that while Taylor Swift represents the modern face of parasocial relationships, the concept applies to various types of celebrity connections. From political figures to sports stars, Australians are forming these one-sided bonds across multiple fields.
Warden's personal list of admired figures includes diverse names like Socrates, Roger Federer, Jordan Pickford, poets Philip Larkin and Carol Ann Duffy, Paul Keating, Gough Whitlam and artist David Hockney. Yet he finds them 'awesomely, mysteriously unknowable' rather than potential friends.
As social media continues to blur the lines between public figures and their audiences, understanding parasocial relationships becomes increasingly important for comprehending modern fandom and celebrity culture in Australia and beyond.
