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Artificial Intelligence

Social Media

AI's impact on social media

AI-generated content in social media refers to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to create various types of content for social media platforms. This can include text, images, videos, and even audio. AI models are trained on vast amounts of data to understand patterns and structures in existing content, enabling them to generate new, original content.

The future of AI-generated content in social media: Here are some additional points to consider:

Overall, AI-generated content is a powerful tool that can be used to create engaging and effective social media campaigns. However, it is important to use this technology responsibly and ethically.

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Early Influencers

In the early years of the 21st century the concept of blogging appeared. These blogs became very popular with the public.

One of the best known bloggers is Heather Armstrong. Heather was one of the first "mommy bloggers" and gained a massive following for her honest and often hilarious take on parenting. She was incredibly authentic and relatable, and her blog became a huge community for parents. She was also one of the first bloggers to really monetize her platform, paving the way for many influencers to come

Other bloggers were Perez Hilton - celebrity gossip, Ree Drummond - food and lifestyle and Garance Dore - fashion.

Heather Armstrong speaking at a conference 2010
Heather Armstrong, one of the first bloggers

By 2006 both Facebook and Twitter were available. This offered greater flexibility as users could not only communicate with the influencer but with each other.

Clearly, like the people mentioned above, these influencers were real flesh and blood people.

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Social Media Influencers

With the advent of Facebook and Twitter the concept of influencer gradually developed. People like Oprah Winfrey were able to use their celebrity status to leverage Facebook's reach. They already were famous and had a ready-made audience to tap into.

Apart from those the development of influencers was more organic. As the Facebook grew, people who were active and engaging on Facebook started gaining a following. They might have had a knack for humor, sharing insightful content, or building communities around shared interests. These individuals, while not necessarily "famous" in the traditional sense, became influential within their Facebook circles.

As these people became popular and trusted on the site companies companies began to use them to promote their products.

Rihanna - one of Facebook's top influencer
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Virtual Influencers

Virtual influencers are computer-generated characters that are designed to look and act like real people. They are created using advanced 3D modeling and animation techniques, and are often used in marketing and advertising campaigns.

Virtual influencers have become increasingly popular in recent years, with brands using them to promote products and engage with audiences on social media platforms. These virtual characters can be customized to fit a brand's image and values, and can be used to create engaging and interactive content that resonates with users.

Some of the benefits of using virtual influencers include:

A life-like virtual influencer
This nice girl is a product of AI

However, there are also some challenges and concerns associated with virtual influencers, including:

A stylized virtual influencer
This influencer is more like a cartoon

Overall, virtual influencers are a powerful tool that can be used to create engaging and effective social media campaigns. However, it is important to use this technology responsibly and ethically.

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Building Virtual Influencers

Building a virtual influencer involves several steps, including:

Building a virtual influencer requires a team of skilled professionals, including 3D artists, animators, writers, and social media managers. It also requires advanced technology and software to create and manage the virtual influencer's content and interactions.

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Ethical Considerations

There are several ethical considerations to keep in mind when using virtual influencers, including:

By following these ethical considerations, brands can use virtual influencers responsibly and effectively to create engaging and authentic social media campaigns.

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How many virtual influencers on facebook

Unfortunately, there's no publicly available, precise count of how many virtual influencers are currently active on Facebook. This kind of data is tricky to track for a few reasons:

However, we can make some observations:

Where to Find Them:

If you're interested in exploring virtual influencers on Facebook, you can try these approaches:

While a specific number remains elusive, it's safe to say that virtual influencers are becoming an increasingly significant part of the Facebook landscape.

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Deepfakes

Deepfakes are created using deep learning, a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that can generate realistic-looking but fake videos and images. They have the potential to be used for malicious purposes, such as spreading misinformation, creating non-consensual pornography, and impersonating individuals.  

The technology behind deepfakes is constantly evolving, making them increasingly difficult to detect. This has raised concerns about the potential impact of deepfakes on society, particularly in the areas of politics, media, and personal privacy.

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Summary

Social media began with blogs which were written by real people. Some of the early bloggers were Heather Armstrong, Perez Hilton, Ree Drummond and Garance Dore. With the advent of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter celebrities like Oprah Winfrey could communicate with a ready made audience.

AI's impact on social media is significant. AI-generated content includes text, images, and videos, offering benefits like efficiency, consistency, personalization, and cost-effectiveness. However, challenges include authenticity, creativity, bias, and ethical concerns. The future of AI-generated content involves personalized feeds, targeted ads, and virtual influencers, but transparency is crucial. Overall, AI is a powerful tool for social media campaigns, but responsible and ethical use is essential.

Virtual influencers are computer-generated characters used in marketing and advertising. They offer cost-effectiveness, consistency, creativity, and engagement. However, challenges include authenticity, ethical concerns, and regulation. Building a virtual influencer involves conceptualization, design, animation, content creation, and engagement. Ethical considerations include transparency, authenticity, privacy, and regulation. Virtual influencers are a growing trend on Facebook, and while an exact number is unknown, they are becoming increasingly significant in the social media landscape.

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Revision

Multi choice

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Assignment

Here are some comprehension questions based on the provided text, each requiring approximately four sentences to answer:

1. How has the concept of an influencer changed from the early days of blogging to the rise of social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter? Discuss the role of both celebrities and ordinary people in shaping this evolution.

2. What are the potential benefits and challenges of using AI-generated content in social media? Consider factors such as efficiency, authenticity, creativity, and ethical concerns in your response.

3. What are virtual influencers, and how are they being used in marketing and advertising campaigns? Discuss the potential benefits and challenges associated with using virtual influencers, including ethical considerations and the need for transparency.

4. Explain the process of building a virtual influencer, from conceptualization to engagement. What are some of the key roles and technologies involved in creating and managing a virtual influencer?

5. Discuss the ethical considerations surrounding the use of virtual influencers. Why is transparency important, and how can brands ensure authenticity and privacy when using virtual influencers in their marketing efforts?

These questions aim to assess understanding of the key concepts and ideas presented in the text, encouraging students to think critically and synthesize information from different sections.

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