Why Cambridge Dictionary Chose ‘Parasocial’ as Word of the Year — and What It Means
Though the concept appears modern, “parasocial” was first introduced in 1956 by sociologists Donald Horton and Richard Wohl, who observed how television viewers felt bonded with on-screen personalities. For decades the term remained limited to academic use, but the explosion of social media has pushed it firmly into the mainstream. Constant access to celebrity content,...
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