European Journal of Marketing: Volume 58 Issue 2

Guest editorial: The dark side of social media: editorial to the EMAC-EJM special issue

Luk Warlop, Morana Fuduric

More than just a chat: a taxonomy of consumers’ relationships with conversational AI agents and their well-being implications

Amani Alabed, Ana Javornik, Diana Gregory-Smith, Rebecca Casey

This paper aims to study the role of self-concept in consumer relationships with anthropomorphised conversational artificially intelligent (AI) agents. First, the authors…

Virtual influencer marketing: the good, the bad and the unreal

Simone Lykke Tranholm Mouritzen, Valeria Penttinen, Susanne Pedersen

The purpose of this paper is to conceptualize virtual influencer marketing, outlining the opportunities and dangers associated with using virtual influencers in social media…

A consumer perspective of AI certification – the current certification landscape, consumer approval and directions for future research

Myrthe Blösser, Andrea Weihrauch

In spite of the merits of artificial intelligence (AI) in marketing and social media, harm to consumers has prompted calls for AI auditing/certification. Understanding consumers’…

Colorful candy, teen vibes and cool memes: prevalence and content of Instagram posts featuring ultra-processed products targeted at adolescents

Gaston Ares, Florencia Alcaire, Vanessa Gugliucci, Leandro Machín, Carolina de León, Virginia Natero, Tobias Otterbring

The current research aimed to examine the prevalence of Instagram posts featuring ultra-processed products targeted at adolescents in Uruguay and hence investigate the frequency…

Forms of falsified online reviews: the good, the bad, and the downright ugly

Doga Istanbulluoglu, Lloyd C. Harris

Falsified online reviews (FORs) are the published/viewable consumer-generated online content regarding a firm (or its representatives) or its services and goods that is, to some…

When enough is not enough: behavioral and motivational paths to compulsive social media consumption

Line Lervik-Olsen, Tor Wallin Andreassen, Bob M. Fennis

Compulsive social media use has the potential to reduce well-being. In this study, the authors propose that there are two main paths to compulsive social media consumption. One is…

COVID-19 and the decline of active social media engagement

Maxwell Poole, Ethan Pancer, Matthew Philp, Theodore J. Noseworthy

The COVID-19 pandemic triggered an increase in online traffic, with many assuming that this technology would facilitate coping through active social connections. This study aims…

Real men don’t share (online): perceived neediness and the frequent-posting femininity stereotype

Andrew B. Edelblum, Nathan B. Warren

Research emphasizes the motivations underlying and potential harmful consequences of social media use, but there is little understanding of stigmas faced by individual social…

Social media “stars” vs “the ordinary” me: influencer marketing and the role of self-discrepancies, perceived homophily, authenticity, self-acceptance and mindfulness

Shehzala, Anand Kumar Jaiswal, Vidya Vemireddy, Federica Angeli

Social media influencers have become constant companions of a large audience of young consumers, but a crucial yet underexplored area of examination relates to the implications of…

Selling hope versus hate: the impact of partisan social media messaging on social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Rahul Govind, Nitika Garg, Lemuria Carter

This study aims to examine the role of hope and hate in political leaders’ messages in influencing liberals versus conservatives’ social-distancing behavior during the COVID-19…

All by myself: examining social media’s effect on social withdrawal and the mediating roles of moral disengagement and cyberaggression

Caroline S.L. Tan

The purpose of this study is to examine how the constructs of false self, preference for online social interaction (POSI), compulsive internet use (CIU), and online disinhibition…