Publish at February 05 2025 Updated February 05 2025
We're hearing more and more about virtual influencers created with AI. The emergence of AI influencers marks a turning point in the online landscape. These virtual entities are increasingly capturing the attention of younger audiences. They embody a new form of influence, competing directly with their human counterparts in terms of cultural and social impact.
Their existence raises pertinent questions: how do these digital figures alter our view of the world, our behavior and our social interactions? The aim of this article is to examine the influence of these avatars on education, youth and society as a whole.
These digital avatars engage in similar activities to their human counterparts: they post photos, videos, interact with their followers, and even collaborate with brands on advertising campaigns.
The design of these influencers begins with the creation of a visual avatar, often created using image- or video-generating AI-based applications. Artificial intelligence comes into play to bring these characters to life. Not only does it generate realistic images, it also creates dialogues and responses tailored to user interactions.
AI analyzes user trends, behaviors and preferences to formulate posts, stories and responses to comments. Machine learning algorithms improve over time, making interactions increasingly natural. The result is a virtual influencer capable of posting content, replying in real time. They're even able to mimic specific personality traits or communication styles to connect with their audience.
Virtual influencers have a huge impact on young people, influencing their clothing choices, hobbies and attitudes. These digital avatars, often perfect and flawless, become role models for young people, who seek to emulate their lifestyles, outfits and interests.
In marketing, these influencers play a key role in shaping consumer trends. They are used to promote products in subtle ways, creating demand for what they promote, whether it's fashion, gadgets or lifestyle. However, this influence raises questions about standards of beauty and success. The standards presented by virtual influencers can seem unattainable, promoting ideals of physical perfection or success that don't reflect reality, potentially leading to comparative behavior and increased social pressure among young people. Source
AI influencers play a significant role in shaping our perception of reality. They propose a vision that is often idealized and far removed from the constraints of the real world. They shape norms and expectations that can be disconnected from everyday human experience.
The question of trust and authenticity is central to the digital age; users navigate between fascination with these virtual figures and skepticism about their artificial nature. Without transparency about the creation and intent behind these influencers, it seems problematic that these entities can play a role in shaping behavior, especially among the young.
Constant exposure to unattainable ideals can encourage unhealthy comparison, leading to feelings of inadequacy or personal devaluation, thus affecting individuals' mental equilibrium and self-esteem.
The emergence of AI influencers offers teachers a unique opportunity to integrate media literacy and digital citizenship into their lessons. Teachers can use these virtual figures to discuss the construction of reality, and the manipulation of images and messages.
It's also an opportunity to talk about media criticism and epistemology. For example, workshops can be organized to analyze how AI affects self-perception and understanding of diversity. CLEMI (Centre de liaison de l'enseignement et des médias d'information) offers educational resources to guide these discussions, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking in the face of media content.
Dialogue with parents
Parents play a crucial role in mediating their children's exposure to virtual influencers. It is advisable to promote an open dialogue on the origin and nature of these virtual characters. It can be explained that they are AI creations and not real humans.
Some platforms offer educational kits to help parents educate their children about the mechanisms of digital influence. They are designed to encourage conscious, critical media consumption. Parents can also limit screen time and encourage activities that develop a positive self-image.
Faced with this new reality, education policymakers can consider policies that integrate AI and digital influence education into school curricula. In its reports, Arcom (Autorité de régulation de la communication audiovisuelle et numérique) stresses the importance of educating for digital citizenship. It acts by strengthening partnerships between educational institutions and regulatory bodies to create appropriate educational content.
Decision-makers can also promote regulations aimed at ensuring transparency in the use of AI influencers in the media. This would protect young consumers from potentially harmful effects on their perception of reality and their mental equilibrium.
Virtual influencers, powered by AI, are transforming our social and cultural landscape and posing new educational and societal challenges. Education must evolve to include a critical understanding of these digital entities, emphasizing reality, diversity and authenticity in the digital age.
Teachers, parents and decision-makers must work together to educate young people to navigate this virtual world with discernment. We also need to think about promoting a healthy self-image and responsible digital citizenship. The future of education may well depend on our ability to integrate and regulate these new forms of influence.
You might also like:
The singularity of AI brings us back to our human singularity and pushes us to the limits of our discernment and measure.
Initiating and integrating interdisciplinary projects into the curriculum
Integrating interdisciplinary projects into higher education prepares students for the complex challenges of the real world. Despite the challenges of implementation, these projects offer many advantages: development of cross-disciplinary skills, complex problem-solving, creativity and innovation. Strategies are proposed for successful integration.
There are countless endangered languages in the world, due to their minority status and lack of media coverage. Nowadays, the transmission of these languages can benefit from a major asset: new technologies and mobile applications in particular can save the day.
Actions to stimulate the youth press in Africa
With a steadily growing young population, the children's print media market offers untapped potential. This article presents the current state of the children's press in Africa, and suggests seven ways to strengthen the sector.
Generative AI: new cognitive weapon, new alphabet or new common?
Generative AI redistributes intellectual production and analysis capacities. It is a technology of cognitive power likely to amplify the inequalities between those who master it and those who are subjected to it. Its emancipatory potential depends on the pedagogical, cultural and institutional conditions of its appropriation. Are we ready to consider the mastery of cognitive technologies as an essential component of the educational common good?
