Exploring Customer-Object Assemblages in Digital Content Consumption:

This study examines the bidirectional and co-creative consumer experience between VTubers and their audiences based on Hoffman and Novak’s (2018) “Consumer–Object Assemblages” theory. VTubers represent a novel form of creators who perform online through digital avatars. Through both quantitative sur...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Masao Kakihara
Format: Article
Language:Japanese
Published: Japan Marketing Academy 2025-06-01
Series:Maketingu Janaru
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/marketing/45/3/45_2025.036/_html/-char/en
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Summary:This study examines the bidirectional and co-creative consumer experience between VTubers and their audiences based on Hoffman and Novak’s (2018) “Consumer–Object Assemblages” theory. VTubers represent a novel form of creators who perform online through digital avatars. Through both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, the study revealed that VTuber audiences engage in various forms of interaction that evoke “enabling” and “constraining” experiences, as proposed by Hoffman and Novak. These bidirectional, co-creative experiential processes manifest differently across distinct fan segments. The findings underscore the effectiveness of this theoretical framework for understanding consumer behavior in digital environments, particularly in contexts where products and services, such as smart devices and AI agents, exhibit autonomous behavior.
ISSN:0389-7265
2188-1669