GSAPP CDP 2023-4 Colloquium II - Student: Wenxi Zhang

Reshaping Reality

“The Impact of Virtual Influencers in the Digital Age”

EXPLORE EXPLAIN PROPOSE

How does social media with virtual influencers, reshaping human interactions, behaviors, and understanding of reality in the digital age.

Phase 1. Observation: on social issues in the digital world

Phase 2. Scenario Development - Meta Human

Phase 3. Digital Entities and Interaction

What defines a 'trend' ?

What makes something trendy that arouse desires?

Who have the power of impacts in this digital era?


Research Abstract

The Impact of Virtual Entities on Real-life Experiences As technology advances, virtual entities, ranging from AI chatbots to digital influencers, are becoming increasingly integrated into our daily lives. Their presence not only reshapes our social ways of interaction but also redefines our understanding of reality and virtuality.

Elaboration: These virtual entities, while lacking physical presence, still have the power to influence real-world decisions, behaviors, and emotions. From shaping viewers’ preferences to affecting emotional well-being, the boundary between the digital and physical memories is becoming increasingly blurred, necessitating a deeper exploration of this phenomenon.

Analyzing Metrics: Interactions between Virtual Beings and Real Humans The dynamic between virtual beings and real humans is evolving at an unprecedented rate. This relationship, once defined by clear boundaries, is now characterized by mutual influence, collaboration, and sometimes even competition. Virtual assistants aid in daily tasks, virtual influencers compete with real influencers for brand endorsements, and AI-driven characters in video games adapt to human players' behaviors. Understanding this evolving interaction is crucial for both technological advancements and societal implications.

Further Elaboration: Multifaceted Roles of Real Individuals in Virtual Realms With the proliferation of virtual platforms, real individuals no longer have a singular identity in the digital realm. Instead, they adopt multiple roles, each with its unique set of behaviors, interactions, and implications. A single individual might be a gamer in one platform, a professional in another, and a social activist in yet another. These diverse digital personas, each with its own set of values and behaviors, highlight the complexity of human identity in the age of digital ubiquity.