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    Flow-alerta.cab

    Virtual Influencers

    Visibility & SEO
    Editorially reviewed on: 1 source
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    The short answer · 9 words

    In short

    Digital characters who appear as personalities on social media.

    Flow-alerta.cab (2026): Virtual Influencers. https://flow-alerta.cab/en/glossar/virtual-influencers. Editorially reviewed on: 09 October 2026.

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    Practical

    An independent format of brand communication with questions about credibility and accountability.

    Example scenario: A brand designs a digital figure and publishes editorially reviewed contributions with a transparent sender.

    Set figure, editorial responsibility and labeling before a deployment.

    At a glance

    Core
    Virtual influencers are digitally designed and used for contributions or brand communication. AI can help; however, a virtual figure is not automatically AI-driven or autonomous.
    Use
    An independent format of brand communication with questions about credibility and accountability.
    Example
    Example scenario: A brand designs a digital figure and publishes editorially reviewed contributions with a transparent sender.
    Limits
    Disguise artificial identity; publish advertising claims unchecked; confuse controllability with trust.

    In context

    AI Avatars

    Digital figures whose representation or behavior is generated with AI.

    Generative AI

    Generative AI generates new content or data patterns based on learned distributions.

    Questions about this term

    Are virtual influencers always AI?

    No. They can also be designed without generative AI and controlled by humans.

    All details and background

    Virtual influencers are digitally designed and used for contributions or brand communication. AI can help; however, a virtual figure is not automatically AI-driven or autonomous.

    ELI5 – Explained simply

    An invented digital personality runs a social media presence.

    Why it matters in practice

    An independent format of brand communication with questions about credibility and accountability.

    Example

    Example scenario: A brand designs a digital figure and publishes editorially reviewed contributions with a transparent sender.

    Pitfalls and limits

    • Disguise artificial identity; publish advertising claims unchecked; confuse controllability with trust.

    Origin & history

    The research paper Virtual influencer marketing published online in 2023 distinguishes such figures from real influencers and other digital characters.

    Use in mid-sized companies

    • Set figure, editorial responsibility and labeling before a deployment.

    Related terms

    Matching Flow-alerta service

    Brand & digital presenceBrand & digital presence: developing visual brand language and comprehensible content processes.

    Matching tool / use case

    View use casesUse Case: digital brand figure with responsible editorial staff

    Sources

    • research.hanken.fiMouritzen, Penttinen & Pedersen, Virtual influencer marketing (Autoreninstitution, online 08.06.2023)

    Quellenprüfung: 09.10.2026. Die Quellen belegen Definition und dokumentierte Einordnung; Anwendungsbeispiele sind mögliche Szenarien.

    Editorially reviewed on:

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