AI, Intimacy and Influence: Youth, Parasocial Relationships and the AI Age

As part of MediaSmarts' 20th annual Media Literacy Week (October 27-31, 2025), and in partnership with the ITDS Cluster of the Canadian Sociological Association, we are pleased to invite you to this timely and thought-provoking panel event.

Panelists include Professor Anabel Quan-Haase, Takuya Maeda (Media Studies PhD), and Yuxing Zhang. Moderated by Michael Adorjan.

Register on Zoom.

Description: As artificial intelligence reshapes our digital environments, young people are increasingly engaging in complex and emotionally charged relationships with AI-powered technologies—chatbots, avatars, algorithmic influencers and more.

This panel will explore the social, emotional and media implications of these emerging parasocial relationships, and what they mean for identity, trust, self-worth and digital media literacy in Canada.

Topics may include:

• How AI companions like Replika and My AI are shaping youth perceptions of intimacy and connection
• The emotional labor of AI use
• The datafication of youth identity
• How AI-human dynamics intersect with gender, race and marginalization

Whether you're a researcher, educator, policymaker or graduate student, this conversation will offer valuable insights into the evolving relationship between youth and AI—and the role of media literacy in navigating it.