usually used by members of the otherkin and fictionkin community- its where you kin a character but strictly for coping reasons (usually as a result of mental illness etc)- so you don't believe you ARE or WERE that character- but still identify WITH them as a coping skill.

When you eat dirt for the first time and leave your family to build a shack in the woods

A Copinglink is a person who Identifies As something Nonhuman and/or Fictional Voluntarily. The identity they chose is called a Linktype ( and they do not need to relate to it to identify as it of course ). It falls under the umbrella term "Alterhuman". Another more general word for this would be Otherlink, for people who 'link with another purpose like for for fun though every Otherlink can use Copinglink.

As defined by the creator of the word tumblr user Who-Is-Page :

1. A non-human identity (or in some cases, relation) which is consciously created. The creator is able to change and pick who/what they identify as/with as need dictates. This identity can be created by anyone, and thus, is not dictated by one's mental health.

2. A consciously created coping mechanism which centers around knowingly, willingly, and actively identifying as (or in some cases, with) the user's choice of a non-human entity.

3. (2017) A (fictitious) human identity which is taken on as consciously created coping mechanism.

Despite popular misinformation, it is not an Otherkin term and the creator even said it themself the word Copinglink had been created to be used instead of Copingkin and such since Copinglink being a Voluntary identity, it did not classify as 'kin( Otherkin meaning someone who Identify As something Nonhuman and/or Fictional Involuntarily ). You can look it up and do some actual research yourself instead of being mad about the truth and spreading misinformation.