With her flawlessly rendered appearance and dramatic digital narratives, virtual influencer Lil’ Miquela has been challenging ideas of authenticity on Instagram since 2016. Why are brands and social media users embracing these CGI celebrities and could they ever replace their human counterparts?

The 2018 midterms saw Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez become the youngest woman ever elected to the US House of Representatives – the result of a campaign that harnessed the power of social media to great effect. What can brands and politicians learn from this digitally-savvy politician?

CG influencer Lil Miquela – created by real-life start-up Brud – has been hacked by an alt-right troll and come out as a robot. Brud has received millions in investment off the back of this digital soap opera – a PR stunt that’s emblematic of a media landscape entwined with social platforms.

Sophie Hinchcliffe, also known as ‘Mrs Hinch’, amassed over 1.7 million followers, high-profile media appearances, and a six-figure book deal in less than a year simply by sharing cleaning tips and videos on Instagram. What is the appeal of watching a woman obsessively scour her home?