AI-generated Content and Subcultural Influence: Career Dynamics of Middle-aged Female StreamersA Case Study of Nayina on Douyin

The widespread application of artificial intelligence technology in the Internet field has triggered many changes in the cultural industry. In China, the deep integration of artificial intelligence technology and the live broadcast industry has brought new opportunities and challenges to the career development of middle-aged female network influencers. This paper takes Nayina, a well-known middle-aged female influencer on the Douyin platform, as a case study to explore the impact of artificial intelligence-generated content, fan culture and LGBTQ+ subculture on her career. The motivation of the study is to reveal how artificial intelligence-generated content reshapes the career trajectory of middle-aged female influencers and analyses its interactive relationship with network subcultures to fill the gap in the current research on middle-aged female influencers. The research method mainly adopts qualitative analysis, conducts a detailed case analysis of Nayinas career development trajectory, and combines literature review and data analysis. The results show that although AI-generated content can bring new career opportunities to middle-aged female influencers, it will also make them face more moral identity crises, especially under the instigation of spoof culture, leading to further deterioration of gender and age discrimination. This article argues that while AI technology gives creators new ways of expression, it also exacerbates the moral dilemma in online culture. In particular, middle-aged female influencers face the dilemma of traffic and professional dignity. The impact of AI-generated content is particularly significant. Therefore, in the future, the live broadcast industry should strengthen supervision of AI-generated content to safeguard creators' professional dignity and physical and mental health.