parasocial 

A buzz word being used to refer to creators and influencers forming or encouraging unhealthy relationships with their fans. Usually used in the context of young audiences feeling they have a relationship with the influencer due to the huge amount of the influencer’s content they consume. The influencer in question, however, is unaware of the fan’s existence other than the general knowledge of having fans. Common examples include Dream and his stans. These relationships are exacerbated by the influencers confirming they have more than a creator-to-viewer relationship.

The word is circulating due to various YouTube essays about the phenomenon using the word, and therefore people who enjoy complaining about influencers repeating what they heard in the video in any comments section they can find.

I can’t believe that creator encourages parasocial relationships with his fans...

Man what a parasocial relationship :/

parasocial by SodaScarf April 12, 2021

parasocial 

a word you know the meaning of if you are part of dream stan twitter.

This is how dangerous parasocial relationships can form. Dream doesn't love you. He can't love you. Dream doesn't KNOW you. He can appreciate you but he can't fucking love you.

parasocial by bunmiles April 15, 2021

Parasocial 

Dream

That youtuber has a parasocial relation with his fans.

Parasocial by AbsoluteUnite May 1, 2021

parasocial 

pertaining to abnormalities in society.

The locals have launched a campaign to extirpate parasocial problems.

parasocial by uttam maharjan March 9, 2010

Parasocial 

A word you use when your ashamed that your husband replaced his original classy, talented, smoking hot, eastern European forbidden fruit fiance with your pasty-ass, backroom casting couch, dirty pirate hooker ass.

Amberly tried to cover up Austin’s scumbaggery by using the term, “parasocial”.

Parasocial by Jetsfan4321 February 1, 2025

parasocial andy

A fan of an online personality, usually a twitch streamer, who tends to send expensive gifts or large donations to the streamer as a result of an irregular parasocial relationship with the streamer

I can’t believe that guy sent Hasanabi a Gucci wallet in the mail. What a parasocial andy, dude.

parasocial andy by reactlord July 23, 2021

Parasocial Stockholm Syndrome 

When someone is in a parasocial/one-sided relationship with a famous person (typically a celebrity or online personality).. and this famous person happens to exhibit toxic, abusive, or inappropriate behavior. The fan ignores their distasteful behavior and continues to support them.

Alternatively, maybe the fan is aware of what they're doing.. but they feel stuck in this one-sided relationship and it's hard for them to escape because of how attached they are.

I'm really into this guy.. but he also creeps me out sometimes. I feel like.. if I ever found out that he's actually a bad person that has done bad things, it would be really hard for me to detach myself from him.

The weirdest part? I don't even know him personally! He's a YouTuber. So why do I feel this way? It's like some form of.. parasocial stockholm syndrome that I'm experiencing or something. That's the only way I can describe it.

Parasocial Stockholm Syndrome by mynameisnotrelevantlol August 15, 2023