Gender Alignment in Virtual Pet Companion Acceptance
As robotic and virtual technologies become more integrated into daily life, pet owners face practical challenges around animal welfare during periods of absence. Virtual and robotic pets represent one potential response to this challenge, offering companionship substitutes that operate independently of human presence. The degree to which consumers accept such solutions as legitimate companions for their pets carries implications for product positioning, household technology adoption, and the broader relationship between pet care and digital innovation in China.
