Gender and perception of reality in AI influencers: Digital gender in the trace of simulacra
Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies, vol.16, no.2, 2026 (ESCI, Scopus)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 16 Issue: 2
- Publication Date: 2026
- Doi Number: 10.30935/ojcmt/18605
- Journal Name: Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies
- Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, MLA - Modern Language Association Database, MLA International Bibliography
- Keywords: AI influencers, digital platforms, gender equality, hyperreality, simulacra and simulation
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Eskisehir Osmangazi University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and the emergence of AI-generated virtual influencers have made it necessary to examine their effects on societal dynamics, particularly in the daily lives of young people. This study focuses on the representation of gender in AI virtual influencers and their impact on perceptions of reality, aiming to identify the expectations of generation Z (Gen Z) university students in Turkey regarding AI influencers. The data obtained in the study were analyzed through logistic regression. The results of a survey conducted with 406 university students in Eskisehir revealed that members of Gen Z prefer a more inclusive understanding of AI influencers rather than a gender-based approach. The findings indicate that AI influencers are not strongly associated with traditional gender roles. This study demonstrates that the representations of AI influencers blur the boundaries between reality and simulation, resonating with Baudrillard’s (1994) concept of simulacra. Gen Z possesses an evolving perspective on gender norms and prefers a more inclusive representation within AI influencer culture.