Glossary
Parasocial relationship
Definition
Parasocial relationship is a one-sided bond with a media figure who does not know the person exists.
Normal, until it displaces
Parasocial bonds are an ordinary part of media consumption and are not inherently harmful.
They become worth attention when the relationship starts doing emotional work that human relationships are not doing — for example, when a creator not posting genuinely ruins a child's day.
More terms
Learning poverty
The share of ten-year-olds unable to read and understand a simple story.
Answer box
A short block near the top of a page containing one quotable…
Population pyramid
A chart showing the size of each age band, split by sex,…
Engagement rate
Interactions as a share of reach.
Natural increase
Births minus deaths, excluding migration.
Kidfluencer
A child creator with a commercial audience.