Title: An investigation into the relationship between influencer food marketing on Instagram and the eating behavior of adolescents Language: German Authors: Steinhausen, Sarah Issue Date: 3-Sep-2024 Abstract:
Nowadays, social media is an integral part of our culture and the use of mobile phones is widespread all over the world, especially among young people. Influencer marketing has evolved significantly through the development of numerous marketing strategies, and Instagram, as the most popular social media platform among young people, offers companies considerable potential for marketing products. Professional influencers usually use the platform daily and frequently, thereby exerting a significant effect on user behavior. The question arises as to the extent to which influencer marketing on Instagram is related to the eating behavior of young people. As part of the bachelor’s thesis, a systematic literature search was carried out in the PubMed and Springer Link databases to determine the existing evidence regarding the research question at hand and to analyze and discuss available data. A total of 52 publications were identified, five of which met the specified inclusion criteria. The results of the included studies were largely consistent. The available studies suggest that the presence of influencers and the publication of nutritional images on the Instagram platform can influence the eating behavior of young people. However, the exact direction of this influence remains unclear. The authors underline the need for further research in this little-researched area and recommend conducting regular assessments of adolescents’ dietary intake and online behavior, as well as promoting education about social media consumption and its risks from a young age.
Nowadays, social media is an integral part of our culture, and the use of cell phones is widespread worldwide, particularly among young people. Influencer marketing has undergone significant development with the emergence of various marketing strategies, and Instagram, being the most popular social media platform among young individuals, presents substantial potential for companies to promote their products. Professional influencers typically use the platform on a daily and high-frequency basis, making a considerable impact on user behavior. The investigation revolves around exploring the correlation between influencer marketing on Instagram and the dietary habits of adolescents. The bachelor´s thesis involved a systematic literature search in PubMed and Springer Link databases to identify the existing evidence on the research question and analyze available data. A total of 52 publications were identified, and five of them met the established inclusion criteria. The majority of the included studies displayed consistent results. The available evidence suggests that the presence of influencers and the posting of nutritional images on the Instagram platform can influence the eating behavior of adolescents. Nevertheless, the precise direction of this influence remains uncertain. The authors stress the necessity for further research in this under-researched area and advocate for regular assessments of adolescents’ food consumption and online activities, as well as promoting education on social media usage and its associated risks from a young age.
Institute: Faculty of Life Sciences
Department Ökotrophologie
Type: Thesis
Thesis type: Bachelor Thesis
Advisor: Wegmann, Christoph
Referee: Flothow, Annegret
