The emerging charisma of 0 s and 1s: unraveling the intricacies of virtual idol adoption

This research explores the factors that influence perception, adoption intention, and trust of K-pop virtual idols. Drawing on a unified stimulus-organism-response (S–O-R) framework integrated with parasocial interaction (PSI) theory, this study investigates how industry-driven environmental stimuli (i.e., visual appeal, narrative openness, socially present conversational style, content-driven engagement, institutional trust) shape the internal psychological state of the audience to drive adoption behavior. The study employs an online survey of K-pop fans ( N = 259) with a series of statistical analyses to examine the relationships between the identified factors and outcome variables. The results demonstrate that relational and identity-driven stimuli operate as dominant predictors that effectively bridge the psychological distance caused by the idol's artificial nature. In contrast, visual appeal and institutional trust exhibit critical boundary limitations. Crucially, the findings reveal that realistic perception and parasocial relationship serve as the underlying mechanisms that translate digital stimuli into genuine emotional trust and long-term behavioral commitment. This study contributes to the emerging field of virtual idol research, providing implications for virtual idol creators, developers, and industry stakeholders seeking to enhance adoption rates and fan engagement.