Research On Interactive Behavior Between Fans And Virtual Idols

With the accumulation and development of virtual idols in recent years,it have not only attracted more commercial capital and have gradually appeared in the public’s consumer vision with the generalization of ACGN culture and groups.As a result,virtual idols have rapidly penetrated and expanded to other circles and gradually become an important part of the idol culture.Relying on the development of media technology and the planning of operation teams,virtual idols mainly perform idol work such as singing and dancing,script interpretation and various game activities in the form of live broadcast,and the strong interactivity and companionship unique to live broadcast make a closer mimetic social relationship between virtual idols and fan groups.Behind the phenomenon of fans’ enthusiasm for virtual idols reflects the emotional needs and expression desires of young audiences.This paper takes A-SOUL,a virtual girl group,as the object of case study,and combines participant observation and in-depth interview methods to observe and analyze the interaction behavior between fans and A-SOUL from the audience’s perspective.This study finds that the interaction process between fans and virtual idols can be divided into three stages: the first stage is the pre-interaction stage,in which the core fans’ behavior and platform-assisted communication are the main factors driving the marginal fans to participate in the interaction;the second stage is the mid-interaction stage,in which fans gradually integrate into the interaction scene in the circle atmosphere,and spontaneously promote their own interactive behavior in order to gain more emotional energy and group identity,gradually forming a recurring process;the third stage is the post-interaction stage,in which fans become "old fans",spontaneously enter and maintain the norms of the community,and release their different selves by actively participating in various interactions.In the process of practice,virtual idol fans act through content production,daily communication and consumption.On the one hand,they support their favorite virtual idols,on the other hand,they satisfy their own emotional needs,and in the process of interaction,they find self-identity and group identity,and then construct an ideal self.The virtual idol industry is rapidly expanding under the operation of commercial capital,but the entertainment attributes and strong interaction of virtual idols not only intensify fans’ craving for symbolic revelry,but also make fans easily immersed in the equal and intimate atmosphere created by virtual idols,which leads to fans’ excessive indulgence in the virtual world.Therefore,the industry and the public still need to maintain caution and rational thinking in the face of the trend of virtual idols’ continued generalization and development.