An Empirical Study On The Dependence of Social Media Platforms On The Digital Influencers To Gain Reliability As A Promotional Tool

Tianjin Daxue Xuebao (Ziran Kexue yu Gongcheng Jishu Ban)/
Journal of Tianjin University Science and Technology

ISSN (Online):0493-2137
E-Publication: Online Open Access
Vol: 57 Issue: 02:2024
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10700287
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE DEPENDENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

PLATFORMS ON THE DIGITAL INFLUENCERS TO GAIN RELIABILITY
AS A PROMOTIONAL TOOL
SHROMONA NEOGI
Alliance School of Business, Alliance University, Bangalore, India. Email: shromonan@gmail.com
SAYANTAN MUKHERJEE
Alliance School of Business, Alliance University, Bangalore, India.
Email: sayantanmukherjee256@gmail.com
AJAY VERMA*
School of Applied Sciences and Languages, Vit Bhopal University, Sehore, M.P, India.
*Corresponding Author Email: ajai.varma1729@gmail.com
Abstract
The study focuses on the growing digital influencers, positioning among the target audience, and their
capability to endorse the social media platforms, i.e., Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, etc., as a
reliable medium of promotions for the brands. A mixed research methodology has been adopted to link the
study with the existing literature in the domain and validate them with statistical analysis. The attitudinal
data is collected from the metropolitan cities of India through 5 point Likert scale administered
questionnaire. Generation Z is the sampling unit of the study. The research findings suggest that an
individual digital influencer's role is mediating consumers' willingness to adopt online buying behavior and
the reliability of social media platforms as a good marketing tool. Brand awareness among the target
audience is also a powerful catalyst to enhance social media marketing. Brands should be more concerned
about engaging influencers based on their content innovation, credibility, followings, and reliability among
the followers on different social media platforms.
Index Terms: Digital Influencers, Social Media Marketing, Gen. Z consumers, Online Buying, Mediation
Analysis
INTRODUCTION
Influencer marketing substantially grew due to the COVID-19 pandemic (Gerlich, 2022).
During the pandemic, almost one-third of members of Generation Z reported that content
makers gave them a feeling of community (Sun et al., 2022). Influencer marketing has
expanded by 470% over the past few years due to the desire to attract Gen Z consumers
and create a virtual experience (Discover New Leads and Brand Growth with Influencer
Marketing, 2022). The study has been conducted to understand the reliability of social
media as a promotional tool and the role of the individual digital influencers therein.
The proliferation of social media marketing has provided consumers with more options,
making social media influencers indispensable for cutting through the noise and
establishing authentic connections with consumers (Suharto et al., 2022). Brands engage
in influencer marketing since it benefits the brands, customers, and influencers. Social
media has already significantly influenced consumer purchase decisions (Aria, M.,
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Cuccurullo, C., D’Aniello, L., Misuraca, M., & Spano, 2022). The research demonstrates
that the COVID-19 epidemic has undoubtedly established a new standard of living. Things
will likely never be quite the same again, despite many of us starting to travel again, going
out more, and maybe even venturing back into the office. The epidemic has altered our
perspectives on many topics, including public health, eating, and shopping (Nafees et al.,
2021).
In the context of the mediating role of the individual digital influencer in catalyzing
consumers' willingness for online buying, it has been seen that various studied factors
played a crucial role in diversifying the social media space as a marketing medium. The
genuineness, credibility, and openness of an influencer's content and the transparency of
their persona are all aspects of authenticity, which helps the brand to position in the mind
of the target consumers through efficient influencers (AlFarraj, O., Alalwan, A. A.,
Obeidat, Z. M., Baabdullah, A., Aldmour, R., & Al-Haddad, 2021). The relationship of trust
that exists between influencers and their audience is strengthened through authenticity.
Trust and credibility are built when an influencer is seen as authentic and forthright in their
actions and statements. Because authentic influencers are considered trustworthy
sources of information and recommendations, their content is perceived to have a higher
value and is more likely to be trusted. Authentic influencers make themselves more
approachable to their audiences by exposing their actual self, including the flaws and
vulnerabilities that come along with them (Lou, 2022). By disclosing genuine experiences
and feelings, they establish a more profound connection with their target audience. The
capacity to relate to others helps to cultivate a sense of community and gives followers
the sense that they are understood and supported (Masuda, H., Han, S. H., & Lee, 2022).
Genuine influencers typically have a good awareness of the people they are trying to
reach and can cater to that audience's specific requirements and interests. They produce
content relevant to their audience, resulting in a community that is more active and
devoted to them. If you follow genuine influencers, you will increase the likelihood of
receiving content that is both relevant and important to you (Kapitan, S., van Esch, P.,
Soma, V., & Kietzmann, 2022). Real influential individuals are open and honest about
their partnerships, sponsored material, and any possible biases they may have. They are
transparent about any instances in which they endorse a product or accept payment in
exchange for their suggestions. This transparency empowers their audience to make well-
informed judgments and contributes to the upkeep of integrity within the influencer
marketing ecosystem (Ye, G., Hudders, L., De Jans, S., & De Veirman, 2021). They
frequently use their platforms to advocate for positive social change, spread awareness,
and support critical social causes that they believe in. They use their sincerity to inspire
and push their followers to take action, whether contributing to a philanthropic cause,
adopting more sustainable practices, or raising awareness about mental health issues
(Issac, A. P., Mathew, A. O., & Sriram, 2022).
The above-discussed traits have helped them gain consumer confidence and spur more
than a random video/reel/influencer promoting a product or service. The reliability of the
influencer is a crucial factor in enhancing the consumer’s willingness to adopt social
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media as a marketplace and thereby creating the desire to make virtual buying decisions
which have been studied through the research objectives:
RO1: To study the significance of brand awareness among consumers, the influence of
specific digital influencers, and different renowned social media (YouTube,
Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest) in enhancing consumers’ willingness for online
buying.
RO2: To study the mediating role of a specific digital influencer in promoting social media
to be adopted as a booming marketplace and enhance virtual buying.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Role of Brand Awareness in enhancing consumers’ purchase intention: Increased
customer desire to make a purchase is directly correlated to increased levels of brand
awareness. When consumers know a brand and have information about the products or
services offered, it positively influences deciding which products or services to purchase
(Orogun & Onyekwelu, 2019). When selecting what to buy, brand awareness aids
consumers in remembering and recognizing a specific brand. Consumers are more
inclined to view a brand as a feasible choice during their decision-making process when
they are familiar with it. This familiarity fosters a sense of trust and confidence in the
brand, which may increase the likelihood that consumers will purchase (Melović, B.,
Jocović, M., Dabić, M., Vulić, T. B., & Dudic, 2020). In the eyes of customers, it helps
establish credibility and trust. Customers view a brand as reliable and trustworthy when
they know it, its reputation, and its presence on the market. Their intention to buy is
affected by this favorable view since they are more inclined to pick a trusted brand over
unproven competitors. Consumers' perceptions of higher quality might be influenced by
brand recognition. Consumers prefer to identify a brand with positive attributes like
quality, inventiveness, and dependability when they are aware of it and the goods or
services it offers. They are more likely to select a brand that provides better value due to
this sense of quality, which can substantially impact their buying intention. It gives one a
commercial competitive advantage. The possibility that a brand will be considered during
the decision-making process rises when consumers are more aware of it than their rivals
(Ansari, S., Ansari, G., Ghori, M. U., & Kazi, 2019). The brand can stand out from the
competition and positively impact consumers' purchasing intentions when brand
awareness is raised. Consumer brand loyalty is boosted by increasing brand
awareness(Darley, W. K., Blankson, C., & Luethge, 2010). Customers are more likely to
become brand loyalists when they know a brand and enjoy using its goods or services.
Repeat purchases and an increased propensity to suggest the brand to others are both
influenced by brand loyalty. Therefore, brand awareness is essential for sustaining and
boosting existing customers' purchase intentions.
Digital Influencers and Online Buying: Digital influencers, also known as social media
influencers, are essential in increasing online purchasing and driving customer purchase
intent. Digital influencers frequently have a devoted following of interested and trustworthy
fans (Ibáñez-Sánchez, S., Flavián, M., Casaló, L. V., & Belanche, 2021). Their target
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audience perceives them as approachable persons who provide genuine

recommendations and reviews. When an influencer recommends a product or service,
followers trust their judgment and are more inclined to buy the recommended things. Trust
and authenticity can improve online purchasing by bridging the gap between brands and
consumers. They can introduce new products and brands to their target audience. They
frequently display and review various products, including those that are less well-known
or not generally available. Influencers build curiosity and excitement among their followers
by highlighting these products and sharing their personal experiences, which leads to
increased online purchasing. Influencers' recommendations of a specific product or brand
can significantly impact customer purchase intent. Their recommendations serve as
social proof, encouraging customers that the product is worthwhile. Many consumers rely
on influencer recommendations for direction, particularly when confronted with many
options in the internet marketplace (Klein, A., & Sharma, 2022). Digital influencers are
masters of narrative and content creation. They use their platforms to convey personal
stories and experiences with a product or brand. Influencers develop an emotional
connection with their audience by weaving narratives around the things they support. This
emotional involvement can impact online purchasing decisions by making things more
relatable and enticing. Digital influencers primarily operate on social media platforms with
a significant following and presence. These platforms give influencers direct access to a
large audience, making reaching out to potential customers simple (Dastane, 2020).
Influencers use channels such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and blogs to promote
items, offer unique discount codes, and work with brands on special promotions. Their
online presence and ability to communicate with their audience in real time create a
favorable climate for online purchasing. Influencers frequently encourage their followers
to share their own product-related experiences. This user-generated content expands the
brand's reach and influence even further. When prospective buyers see great reviews
and comments from other customers, it reaffirms their purchase intent and increases their
confidence in completing an online purchase.
Usage of Social Media Platforms as a Marketplace: Social networking tools have
become essential to marketing plans for companies of all sizes. They are a low-cost
option to reach a big audience, engage customers, and raise brand awareness (Kaushik,
2016). They facilitate building brand presence, content sharing, promotions, audience
engagement, targeted advertising, and influencer partnerships. They offer powerful
analytics tools that provide insights into audience demographics, engagement metrics,
content performance, and ad campaign efficacy. This information enables organizations
to assess the effectiveness of their social media initiatives, discover patterns, and make
informed decisions to improve their marketing tactics (Coates et al., 2020). Businesses
promote their brand stories, values, and unique selling propositions by building accounts
on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Consistent
branding across platforms aids in developing brand awareness and trust among the target
audience.
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Instagram as a marketplace: Instagram has developed from a social media platform to

a popular marketplace for businesses to exhibit and sell their goods and services (Hu, K.,
& Fu, 2021). It provides company profiles tailored to enterprises and brands. These
profiles include features and tools that improve the buying experience, such as product
tags, shopping stickers, and a "Shop" tab on the profile. Businesses may promote their
products and make them easily discoverable for potential buyers by creating a business
profile. Companies can use Instagram's product tagging functionality to tag products in
their posts and stories. Users can read details, pricing, and a direct link to purchase the
product on the business's website by tapping on a tagged product (Barker, 2018). Product
tagging enables easy product discovery and a smooth transition from browsing to
purchase. Businesses can use the Instagram Shop feature to create a virtual storefront
within the app. Businesses can curate product groupings to make browsing and exploring
their offers easier for visitors. Instagram Shop offers customers a visually appealing and
convenient buying experience, boosting the likelihood of purchasing. Businesses can
make their posts and stories shoppable by tagging products and adding shopping
stickers. These clickable tags or stickers connect consumers to the product page,
allowing them to purchase with just a few taps. Shoppable posts and stories enable
businesses to exhibit their products and attract impulse purchases (Vieira et al., 2019).
Instagram Checkout is a tool that allows users to make their purchases without being
routed to another website. Users may make subsequent purchases with just a few taps
after entering their payment and delivery information (Wielki, 2020). Instagram Checkout
simplifies the purchasing experience, lowering friction and increasing conversion rates.
Many businesses use Instagram influencer marketing to promote their products and reach
a larger audience. Businesses may tap into their fan base and harness their influence to
generate sales by engaging with influencers (Chopra et al., 2021). Influencers can
generate sponsored content highlighting the products, delivering genuine
recommendations, and demonstrating their use. Instagram offers insights and analytics
for company profiles, allowing them to measure data like post reach, engagement, and
click-through rates. These insights give helpful information for optimizing marketing
campaigns, understanding customer behavior, and fine-tuning product offerings (Wielki,
2020).
Facebook as a marketplace: Facebook has a powerful marketplace function that allows
businesses to list and sell things on the site directly. Facebook Marketplace is a
component of the Facebook platform where users can buy and sell products in their local
area. Businesses can create product listings, establish prices, provide descriptions, and
include photographs (Janathanan & Nizar, 2018). Businesses can utilize the Marketplace
to access many local users searching for products or browsing through various
categories. Facebook Shop is a feature that allows businesses to set up a custom online
store on their Facebook Page (Thilina, 2021). Businesses can display their products,
categorize them, write descriptions, and establish prices. Businesses may utilize
Facebook Shop to deliver a seamless shopping experience without requiring consumers
to leave the Facebook platform. Users can explore products, add them to their carts, and
purchase directly from Facebook. Businesses may tag products in Facebook posts,
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making it easier for people to find and buy them (Janathanan & Nizar, 2018). Businesses
can also construct product catalogs that feature information such as pricing, descriptions,
and photographs. These catalogs can be linked to Facebook advertisements, allowing
businesses to promote their products to a specific audience while driving visitors to their
Facebook Shop or another website. Facebook Messenger can be connected with the
marketplace, allowing businesses to communicate with prospective buyers, answer
queries, and negotiate rates straight from the platform (Berne-Manero & Marzo-Navarro,
2020). Messenger will enable companies to communicate with clients and close deals
and quickly. Businesses can use Facebook's ad features to target specific audiences
based on demographics, interests, and behaviors. Businesses can boost the visibility of
their items and contact potential customers interested in their offerings by running tailored
adverts (Dwivedi et al., 2020). Ad campaigns can increase revenue and brand exposure
by driving people to the Facebook Shop or an external website. Facebook analytics and
insights are available for company pages, allowing companies to measure metrics such
as post reach, engagement, and click-through rates (Janathanan & Nizar, 2018). These
insights assist firms in understanding the effectiveness of their market activities,
identifying trends, and optimizing their marketing strategy. Businesses may engage with
potential consumers and cultivate connections by joining relevant Facebook Groups or
creating their communities. Engaging with members of these communities, sharing
excellent material, and promoting products can help increase interest and drive sales.
YouTube as a marketing facilitator: While YouTube is best recognized as a video-
sharing platform, it may also be used to promote and sell items and services. YouTube is
a great place to showcase products and their features and benefits. Businesses can
produce entertaining movies that promote their products or services, explain how they
function, share client testimonials, and solicit feedback (Morris, M. and Anderson, 2015).
These movies assist potential clients in understanding the value and functionality of the
offerings, ultimately leading to a purchase. YouTube creators can do affiliate marketing
by promoting items or services in their videos. Affiliate links can be included in video
descriptions, or creators might use specialized tools such as YouTube's Merch Shelf
feature (Nandagiri & Philip, 2018). The creator receives a commission when viewers click
on these links and make a purchase. This enables businesses to promote and sell their
products by leveraging the impact and reach of renowned YouTube creators. Businesses
can develop sponsored content with YouTube influencers or creators to advertise their
products or services. Influencers can promote products in their videos by providing
reviews, tutorials, or sharing personal experiences. Sponsored videos allow brands to
access a larger audience while benefiting from the authority and trust that influencers
have built with their viewers (Xiao et al., 2018). Cards and End Screens are interactive
elements on YouTube that allow businesses to market their products directly within
videos. Companies can use these capabilities to provide clickable links or call to action
that directs visitors to their website or online store, where they can make a purchase.
Creators and businesses on YouTube may develop and sell branded items directly on the
site. Merch Shelf on YouTube allows producers to display their stuff, such as t-shirts,
mugs, or accessories, alongside their videos (Coates et al., 2020).
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Viewers can purchase by clicking on the merchandise links, converting their support for
the creator into a transaction. Businesses may now hold live shopping events or product
debuts on YouTube thanks to new tools. These live streams can highlight new products,
conduct demonstrations, offer limited-time deals, and interact with viewers in real time via
live chat (Boerman, S. C., & Van Reijmersdal, 2020). Live shopping events instill a sense
of urgency and exclusivity among viewers, prompting them to buy during the event.
TrueView, pre-roll, and display ads are among the advertising alternatives available on
YouTube (Masuda et al., 2022). Businesses can use tailored advertisements to reach
specific audiences based on demographics, interests, and viewing habits. This
advertising can generate leads and prospective purchases by driving traffic to the
company's website, online store, or landing page.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
To fulfill the purpose of the study, the study design has been kept a mix of quantitative
and qualitative research. The qualitative phase helped determine the study determinants,
frame the questionnaire, and select the sampling technique (convenience sampling) and
unit best suited for the study. A 5-point Likert scale administered questionnaire was
floated to the Gen.Z population, mainly from the metropolitan cities of India (Kolkata,
Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru). 347 samples from different cities were
collected through a survey Google form floated over several social media handles and e-
mails. The collected data was analyzed with the help of R software (Version 4.2).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

Based on the research objective, the significance of the determinants from the research
model was statistically tested. The mediation analysis (Model 6) is carried out to
understand the role of the influence of an individual opinion leader who the consumer is
following as well as the brand awareness to popularize the social media space as a
marketplace and subsequently affecting the behavior of the target segment towards
online buying intention and adoption. The theory of Planned Behaviour clearly states that
the purchase intention leads to adopting any phenomenon (Belanche et al., 2021).
Brand awareness as a mediator
R2 value Adj R2 value F Value p-value
0.725 0.698 1.357 0.026
Brand awareness is impacted by the influence of the different social media handles (Adj.
R2 value – 0.698, p < 0.05).
Model Coeff. p-value ULCI LLCI Mediation
Constant 3.80 0.0029 6.24 1.36 Significant
Influence by Instagram 0.793 0.0400 0.50 0.03 Significant
Influence by YouTube 0.218 0.009 -0.11 -0.55 Significant
Influence by Facebook 0.093 0.586 0.438 -0.25 Insignificant
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The specific influence of Facebook on brand awareness is seen to be insignificant. In

contrast, the p-value, ULCI – LLCI (non-zero range), determines the significance of other
two popular social media platforms, i.e., YouTube (C.I. - 95%, p = 0.009 < 0.05, -0.11 to
-0.55) & Instagram (C.I. – 95%, p = 0.04 < 0.05, 0.50 to 0.03).
Influence from the individual opinion leader/digital influencer
R2 value Adj. R2 value F Value p-value
0.565 0.531 0.869 0.0055
The influence of the opinion leader is getting impacted by the effect of the different social
media handles (Adj. R2 value – 0.531, p < 0.05).
Model Co.eff. p-value ULCI LLCI Mediation
Constant 2.226 0.018 -0.16 -0.21 Significant
Influence by Instagram 0.793 0.043 -0.10 -0.18 Significant
Brand awareness 0.1232 0.023 -0.03 -0.18 Significant
The specific influence of Facebook on influence by specific influencers is seen to be
insignificant. In contrast, the p-value, ULCI – LLCI (non-zero range) determines the
significance of other two popular social media platforms and brand awareness, i.e.,
YouTube (C.I. - 95%, p = 0.009 < 0.05, -0.11 to -0.55), Instagram (C.I. – 95%, p = 0.04 <
0.05, -0.10 to -0.18) & Brand Awareness (C.I. – 95%, p = 0.023 < 0.05, -0.03 to -0.18).
Effect on Consumers’ Willingness for online consumption
R-value R2 value F Value p-value
0.3457 0.299 1.08 0.0386
The Influence of Insta, Youtube, and Individual Influencers on consumers' willingness is
highly evident as a determinant and, obviously, the Brand awareness level of the target
audience (p-value = 0.038 < 0.05).
Model Coeff. p-value ULCI LLCI Mediation
Constant 2.56 0.006 4.39 0.73 Significant
Influence by Instagram 0.122 0.007 -0.30 -0.61 Significant
Influence by specific digital influencers 0.06 0.004 -0.13 -0.27 Significant
Brand awareness 0.09 0.007 -0.09 -0.27 Significant
The mediation component ULCI – LLCI range is non-zero except for the Facebook
influence, which determines that Gen. Z primarily relies on YouTube and Instagram
through the influence of specific opinion leaders who the particular person follows.
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Direct and Indirect effect of X on Y post to bootstrapping

Effect S.E. t-value p-value ULCI LLCI
0.122 0.09 1.33 0.18 -0.06 -0.30
It can be seen that the p-value of direct effect after mediator inclusion becomes
insignificant. It determines that there is full mediation in the phenomenon and the brand
awareness and the influence by specific digital influencers is impacting the consumer
willingness for online buying.
Effect Boot SE Boot ULCI Boot LLCI
Total 0.027 0.03 -0.10 -0.52
Ind1 0.020 0.02 -0.08 -0.42
Ind2 0.005 0.01 -0.05 -0.32
Ind3 0.002 0.20 -0.02 -0.20
Figure 1: Mediation Model
CONCLUSION
The individual digital influencer has a significant dominance in the mind of the consumers
(Gen. Z), which is facilitated by different social media platforms. While strategizing social
media marketing by the brands, it is crucial to understand the genre of the business and
the taste & preferences of the target segment to select the right influencer to promote
their product/services. Social media can also be used to enhance brand awareness; in
turn, good brand awareness among the consumer will help the brand connect more
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effectively. It facilitates the decision-making to strategize brand association with the ideal
digital influencer and consumer to enhance the willingness for online buying.
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An Empirical Study On The Dependence of Social Media Platforms On The Digital Influencers To Gain Reliability As A Promotional Tool

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Tianjin Daxue Xuebao (Ziran Kexue yu Gongcheng Jishu Ban)/

Journal of Tianjin University Science and Technology

AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON THE DEPENDENCE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

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audience perceives them as approachable persons who provide genuine

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Instagram as a marketplace: Instagram has developed from a social media platform to

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

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The specific influence of Facebook on brand awareness is seen to be insignificant. In

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Direct and Indirect effect of X on Y post to bootstrapping

Figure 1: Mediation Model

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