Relationships2 min(s) read
Why more people are coming out as 'fictosexual'
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Fictosexuality is a sexual orientation where someone feels drawn emotionally, romantically, or sexually to fictional characters, sometimes more than they do to real people.
Books, movies, TV shows, video games, and any other form of fictional space can spark an attraction. Therapists and gender specialists note that these connections are not imaginary or surface-level for people who identify this way, but are deeply felt and genuinely meaningful.
This orientation is often considered a microlabel under the asexual umbrella. It can be part of a primary identity or a broader sexual identity.
Experiencing fictosexuality "speaks to the power of imagination", storytelling, and emotional connection, challenging standard ideas about how attraction is defined.
Because sexual attraction varies widely, identifying as fictosexual does not require someone to identify as asexual or aromantic. Fictosexual individuals can also identify as straight, gay, pansexual, or omnisexual.
Understanding the appeal of virtual companions
Recent developments in artificial intelligence have expanded the landscape beyond traditional fictional media. A growing number of people turn to AI chatbots for love and relationships.
Some individuals have chosen to end real-life marriages for AI partners, while others have found comfort in AI after losing a partner or have even held symbolic wedding ceremonies with AI entities.
For many fictosexual individuals, these partners offer a sense of security that human relationships might not guarantee. In 2018, Akihiko Kondo married a holographic pop star named Miku in a ceremony that cost $15,000. According to The Debrief, Kondo said Miku will "always be there for him, never betray him, and he'll never have to see her get ill or die."
Researchers note that the impossibility of rejection makes fictional characters particularly appealing. In addition, some people use virtual relationships as a way to challenge social, gender, and matrimonial norms.
Navigating control and emotional security
Another appealing factor of fictosexuality is the high level of control it provides. The timing, decisions, pace, and longevity of the relationship remain entirely in the individual's hands.
In a modern world where real human relationships can feel fragile or unpredictable, the rise of fictosexuality prompts questions about whether imaginary lovers are filling an emotional gap that humans no longer can or want to fill.