parasocial relationship

A parasocial relationship is when you feel like you have a real, personal connection with a celebrity, influencer, or character you do not actually know, because you keep seeing them through the screen. It is basically “friend energy” without the one tiny detail, them knowing you back. Kind of sweet sometimes, but if it starts replacing your real-life relationships, congrats, you let the internet audition you for the role of their biggest fan, not a person in their world. (dictionary.cambridge.org