India, Nov. 18 -- The word 'Parasocial' captures a distinctly modern kind of connection: when you feel close to someone you've never actually met. The term was coined in 1956 by sociologists Donald Horton and R. Richard Wohl to describe the pseudo-relationships television viewers developed with on-screen personalities.

Over the past decade, the phenomenon has shifted from academic study into everyday life as influencers, streamers and AI companions create steady and intimate channels of contact. The Cambridge Dictionary declared "parasocial" as its Word of the Year, noting that lookups and public conversation about one-sided emotional bonds surged across news and social platforms.

That surge began with a spike in interest earlier this y...