Feb 24, 2025 11:28 PM
New research unveils the "dark side" of social media influencers and their impact on marketing and consumer behaviour
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1074714
INTRO: Social media influencers (SMIs) pose psychological, health and security risks and need tighter regulation, a new study finds.
SMIs have revolutionised marketing, shaping consumer behaviour, brand strategies, and even societal norms. However, new research exposes a lesser-known side of influencer culture, one that raises ethical, psychological, and regulatory concerns.
A recent study by the University of Portsmouth systematically examines the negative impacts of SMIs, highlighting issues such as misinformation, endorsement of dangerous products, unrealistic beauty standards, the fostering of a comparison culture, deceptive consumption, and privacy risks.
With influencer marketing projected to reach an estimated $480 billion by 2027, companies increasingly rely on SMIs to promote products and foster consumer trust.
A Digital Marketing Institute (2024) survey found that 60 per cent of consumers trust influencer recommendations, with nearly half of all purchasing decisions being influenced by these endorsements. However, as influencer culture grows, so do concerns about its unintended consequences.
The paper, published in Psychology and Marketing, warns power of SMIs is creating a worrying consumer landscape. Unlike traditional celebrities, whose fame is typically rooted in institutional settings - such as acting, music, or sports - SMIs gain recognition through social media platforms, often relying on personal branding and consistent engagement with their audiences.
Yuksel Ekinci, Professor of Marketing and Sales at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Many SMIs act as opinion leaders or experts within their respective areas, frequently reviewing products and leveraging their authority, expertise, or relationships with followers to influence purchasing decisions. Some inspire and entertain; others deceive and upset. The deception and damage, and their impact on consumption, need to be carefully regulated.”
This study organises the negative aspects of influencer marketing into six key themes... (MORE - details, no ads)
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1074714
INTRO: Social media influencers (SMIs) pose psychological, health and security risks and need tighter regulation, a new study finds.
SMIs have revolutionised marketing, shaping consumer behaviour, brand strategies, and even societal norms. However, new research exposes a lesser-known side of influencer culture, one that raises ethical, psychological, and regulatory concerns.
A recent study by the University of Portsmouth systematically examines the negative impacts of SMIs, highlighting issues such as misinformation, endorsement of dangerous products, unrealistic beauty standards, the fostering of a comparison culture, deceptive consumption, and privacy risks.
With influencer marketing projected to reach an estimated $480 billion by 2027, companies increasingly rely on SMIs to promote products and foster consumer trust.
A Digital Marketing Institute (2024) survey found that 60 per cent of consumers trust influencer recommendations, with nearly half of all purchasing decisions being influenced by these endorsements. However, as influencer culture grows, so do concerns about its unintended consequences.
The paper, published in Psychology and Marketing, warns power of SMIs is creating a worrying consumer landscape. Unlike traditional celebrities, whose fame is typically rooted in institutional settings - such as acting, music, or sports - SMIs gain recognition through social media platforms, often relying on personal branding and consistent engagement with their audiences.
Yuksel Ekinci, Professor of Marketing and Sales at the University of Portsmouth, said: “Many SMIs act as opinion leaders or experts within their respective areas, frequently reviewing products and leveraging their authority, expertise, or relationships with followers to influence purchasing decisions. Some inspire and entertain; others deceive and upset. The deception and damage, and their impact on consumption, need to be carefully regulated.”
This study organises the negative aspects of influencer marketing into six key themes... (MORE - details, no ads)