The term "zoomer" refers to people belonging to Generation Z — those born roughly between the late 1990s and the early 2010s. These young individuals are the first "digital natives," who have been familiar with the internet, mobile communication, and social networks from an early age.
Marina Priemyshyeva, Deputy Director for Scientific Work and Head of the Lexicography Department of Modern Russian Language at the Institute of Linguistic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, noted: "Although the word 'zoomer' is known to many, its meaning has expanded and become a symbol for a new generation. We are observing the reflection of society and attempts to understand the characteristics of youth, so this word is associated with many new concepts and ideas. It seems that we are interested not only in the word itself but also in the phenomenon it denotes."
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the adjective "parasocial" has become the word of 2025. This word describes the connection a person feels with a celebrity, a character from a book or movie, or with artificial intelligence. This choice is linked to the growing trend of one-sided relationships that many form with celebrities or AI chatbots.
