Sanal Influencerlara Yönelik Kullanıcıların Sosyal Algısı: Yapay Zekâ Çağında Kuramsal Bir İnceleme

Öz

Bu çalışma, yapay zekâ tabanlı sanal influencerların sosyal medya kullanıcıları üzerindeki sosyal algılarını tematik ve kuramsal bir bakışla incelemektedir. Sanal influencerlar yalnızca estetik figürler değil; sosyal, kültürel ve psikolojik etkileşim kurulan dijital özneler olarak ele alınmıştır. 2018–2025 yılları arasında çoğunlukla WoS (Web of Science) ve Scopus veri tabanlarında yayımlanan 80’den fazla akademik kaynak temelinde; sosyal varlık, parasosyal etkileşim, antropomorfizm, tekinsiz vadi, kaynak güvenilirliği ve dijital temsil kuramlarıyla tematik analiz yapılmıştır. Lil Miquela, Imma Gram ve Kim Zulu örnekleri incelenmiş; sosyal bağ, duygusal yakınlık, insan benzerliği, güven–şeffaflık ve dijital temsil temaları belirlenmiştir. Bulgular, güven ve görünürlük dengesinin kullanıcı algısını şekillendirdiğini göstermektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Sanal ınfluencer
• sosyal algı
• yapay zeka
• parasosyal etkileşim
• dijital temsil

Users’ Social Perception Towards Virtual Influencers: A Theoretical Study In The Age Of Artificial Intelligence

Öz

This study examines the social perceptions of artificial intelligence-based virtual influencers on social media users from a thematic and theoretical perspective. Virtual influencers are not merely aesthetic figures; they are treated as digital subjects with whom social, cultural, and psychological interactions are established. Based on more than 80 academic sources published mainly in the WoS (Web of Science) and Scopus databases between 2018 and 2025, a thematic analysis was conducted using social presence, parasocial interaction, anthropomorphism, uncanny valley, source credibility, and digital representation theories. The examples of Lil Miquela, Imma Gram, and Kim Zulu were examined; themes of social bond, emotional closeness, human similarity, trust–transparency, and digital representation were identified. The findings show that the balance between trust and visibility shapes user perception.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Virtual influencer
• social perception
• artificial intelligence
• parasocial interaction
• digital representation

Kaynakça

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