peer reviewed · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction (2026)
When Virtual Influencers Cross Relational Boundaries: Expectancy Violation, Mind Perception, and Consumer Responses
Faren Karimkhan, Yang Feng, Jeongmin Ham
In plain English
Across two studies (N=253 and N=478), consumers reacted worse to a human-like virtual influencer cast as a sexual partner than as a friend, because it violated expectations, especially when the influencer was seen as lacking the needed mind. Disclosing that it was AI made no significant difference.
virtual influencers
trust
commerce
evaluation
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