Search Results (1,299)

This study examines how digital nomads act as unintentional brand ambassadors shaping destination image via lifestyle content. Although nomads influence place perceptions through blogs, vlogs, and social media, tourism institutions rarely acknowledge their role. We theorize this diffuse effect as ambient influence—the cumulative, non-promotional impact of lifestyle posts—and test whether nomads operate as unintentional brand intermediaries affecting destination image and travel intention. A multi-method design includes a survey of 487 international travelers modeling links among exposure, perceived authenticity, destination image, and travel intention; an experiment with 210 participants comparing nomad versus influencer videos; and interviews with 14 DMO professionals examining institutional responses. Results indicate that nomad content improves destination image and travel intention via perceived authenticity and relational trust. Relative to influencers, nomads are viewed as more credible and less commercially motivated. However, qualitative evidence shows that DMOs often overlook this influence due to ambiguity, control-oriented branding, and reliance on performance metrics ill-suited to informal media. The study formalizes ambient influence to capture the cumulative, non-promotional impact of nomad content and identifies a strategic blind spot in institutional engagement. It contributes by reconceptualizing influence beyond formal marketing and offers guidance for tourism management, including broader recognition frameworks and updated evaluation of user-generated content. Full article

As a core component in constructing a green manufacturing system, green product design has become an essential strategy for promoting enterprises’ green transformation. This study aims to investigate the causal impact of green product design implementation on corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, addressing a critical gap in understanding how design-level interventions drive sustainable development. Based on panel data of China’s A-share listed firms from 2015 to 2022, this study employs the officially released list of green product design enterprises as a quasi-natural experiment and applies a multi-period difference-in-differences model to address this research objective. The empirical results show that, first, green product design significantly and robustly enhances corporate ESG performance. Second, mechanism analysis reveals that green product design promotes ESG performance mainly through three channels: driving green technological innovation, optimizing supply chain governance, and improving operational efficiency. Third, heterogeneity analysis shows that the positive impact is more pronounced in regions with a higher degree of marketization, in firms with lower financing constraints, and in firms receiving greater media attention. This research contributes novel insights by establishing a comprehensive analytical framework that integrates multiple transmission mechanisms and contextual moderators, thereby advancing the theoretical understanding of green design efficacy. This study not only provides micro-level empirical evidence for the effectiveness of the green manufacturing system but also offers important implications for policymakers and enterprises aiming to achieve sustainable development through green design practices. Full article

With the rapid advancement of social media and AI technologies, influencer marketing has evolved significantly. Virtual influencers have emerged as alternatives to traditional human influencers. Grounded in the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), this study examines how virtual influencers’ source credibility dimensions (expertise, attractiveness, and trustworthiness) affect consumer attitudes and purchase intentions. Using the case of virtual influencer Imma, this study collected 344 valid online survey responses. The empirical results show that, along the central route, perceived product value has a significant and positive effect on purchase intention. Along the peripheral route, the trustworthiness, attractiveness, and expertise of the virtual influencer all exert significant positive effects on purchase intention. However, product involvement moderates these effects differently: for high-involvement consumers, the effects of trustworthiness and attractiveness on purchase intention are significantly strengthened, while the moderating effects on expertise and perceived value remain non-significant. This study contributes to the emerging literature on virtual influencer marketing by demonstrating how source credibility dimensions and perceived value interact with product involvement to shape consumer responses. Additionally, virtual influencers offer sustainability benefits by minimizing carbon emissions from travel and physical production inherent in traditional influencer campaigns. The findings offer practical implications for marketers: virtual influencers can effectively enhance brand exposure, but their persuasive impact varies by product involvement requiring tailored content strategies for high- versus low-involvement products. Furthermore, future research could extend this work by examining the effects of different product categories and cultural contexts on the effectiveness of virtual influencer marketing. Full article

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, businesses are constantly under pressure to produce high-quality, engaging content for various marketing channels, including blog posts, social media updates, and email campaigns. However, the traditional manual content generation process is often time-consuming, resource-intensive, and inconsistent in maintaining the desired messaging and tone. As a result, the content production process can become a bottleneck, delay marketing campaigns, and reduce organizational agility. Furthermore, manual content generation introduces the risk of inconsistencies in tone, style, and messaging across different platforms and pieces of content. These inconsistencies can confuse the audience and dilute the message. We propose a hybrid approach for content generation based on the integration of Markov Chains with Semantic Technology (CGMCST). Based on the probabilistic nature of Markov chains, this approach allows an automated system to predict sequences of words and phrases, thereby generating coherent and contextually accurate content. Moreover, the application of semantic technology ensures that the generated content is semantically rich and maintains a consistent tone and style. Consistency across all marketing materials strengthens the message and enhances audience engagement. Automated content generation can scale effortlessly to meet increasing demands. The algorithm obtained an entropy of 9.6896 for the stationary distribution, indicating that the model can accurately predict the next word in sequences and generate coherent, contextually appropriate content that supports the efficacy of this novel CGMCST approach. The simulation was executed for a fixed time of 10,000 cycles, considering the weights based on the top three topics. These weights are determined both by the global document index and by term. The stationary distribution of the Markov chain for the top keywords, by stationary probability, includes a stationary distribution of “people” with a 0.004398 stationary distribution. Full article

This article examines how K-Pop Demon Hunters (2025) portrays women’s agency and sorority while curating Korean cultural specificity within the context of global streaming. Adopting a Gender Media Studies approach, the study conducts a scene-indexed close reading of nine key sequences, applying a coding scheme (co-presence, agency, solidarity, body framing, choreography–camera, colour) and a cultural-codes matrix that classifies elements as retained, hybridised, or globalised. Findings show a consistent pattern: when two or more women protagonists appear together, agency and sorority co-occur; this is visible in the narrative arcs and through full-body staging, ensemble composition, and a persistent we/together rhetoric. Korean local specificity is divided by purpose: English-led song hooks extend transnational reach; retained social anchors (space, ritual, foodways, and folklore) preserve locality; and hybridised cues (stylised folklore; idol/traditional blends) manage cultural density without erasure. Authorship and industry context align with this encoding, combining a women centred creative core and Korean cast with on-screen emphasis on women’s friendship, repair, and shared agency. Two tensions remain: traditional attire in spectacle numbers, and the narrow body diversity in the idol-slim body ideal, inviting comparative and interpretative scrutiny. Overall, the case demonstrates how an animated musical can emphasise women’s empowerment and cultural specificity without reducing either to mere marketing tools. Full article

De-influencing is an emerging trend that appeared in 2023 on the TikTok platform as a reaction to overconsumption. De-influencers are content creators who, through their videos, seek to discourage consumers from purchasing products or services widely promoted by major brands. They position themselves in opposition to traditional social media influencers, who are oriented toward paid brand promotion and driven by the commercial logic of the influencer marketing. Through their content, de-influencers advocate for the mindful use of the planet’s resources and for the consumption of goods and services in a way that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own. Thus, the de-influencing movement has been grounded in the growing awareness of the multiple dangers posed by excessive consumption of goods, products, and services—overconsumption having negative effects on natural resources, which are diminishing exponentially and ultimately generating major imbalances in both the environment and society. Full article

Digital Transformation (DTN) and Social Media Use (SMU) are reshaping how firms pursue competitiveness and sustainability. Yet, their combined effects on Sustainable Business Performance (SBP)—particularly in emerging-market retail contexts—remain insufficiently explored. This study contributes to closing this gap by exploring how DTN and SMU jointly enhance SBP through interrelated organizational capabilities: Collaboration Networks (CNS), Service Innovation (SIN), Customer Experience (CEX), Organizational Resilience (ORE), and Competitive Advantage (CAE). A dual-method design was adopted. In Phase 1, twenty-three experts participated in a three-round electronic Delphi (e-Delphi) process, during which Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering was used to refine forty-seven indicators and validate expert consensus. The integration of e-Delphi and FCM clustering introduces a novel approach to consensus validation, enhancing methodological rigor. In Phase 2, survey data from 982 Thai retail executives were evaluated employing Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results revealed that DTN and SMU significantly improve SBP when mediated by SIN, CEX, and ORE. Specifically, SMU fosters CNS and SIN, whereas DTN strengthens CEX and CAE. Theoretically, this study integrates the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities Theory (DCT); empirically, it provides rare large-scale evidence from Thailand’s retail industry; and practically, it positions DTN as a driving force behind innovation, resilience, and inclusive development consistent aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Full article

This study examined the complex interplay of demographic characteristics, behavioral patterns, and technological factors that contribute to digital fraud victimization within the context of a developing economy, focusing specifically on Thailand. Utilizing data collected from 1200 respondents and applying binary logistic regression analysis, the research identified key predictors of fraud exposure, including age, income, student status, use of portable devices, and social media engagement. A paradoxical finding emerged: stronger perceived digital security was associated with higher fraud risk, indicating that overconfidence in platform safeguards may unintentionally increase vulnerability. Interestingly, users’ perceptions of digital security—such as confidence in identity verification and password protocols—were positively associated with fraud victimization, indicating potential cognitive biases and overconfidence in digital environments. The findings revealed a high prevalence of fraud experiences among participants, highlighting the gap between perceived and actual digital safety. These results emphasized the urgent need for user-centered fraud prevention measures, enhanced digital literacy, and targeted public awareness campaigns. The study contributes to the broader understanding of cybersecurity challenges in emerging markets and offers policy-relevant insights for strengthening digital financial resilience. Full article

Corporate climate risk disclosure has become increasingly important globally in combating climate change and achieving sustainable development goals. This study examines the impact of interlocking director networks on corporate climate risk disclosure in emerging markets. Using a sample of Chinese listed companies from 2009 to 2023, we measure interlocking director networks in terms of network breadth and brokerage position. Our results demonstrate that interlocking director networks have a positive and significant impact on corporate climate risk disclosure, and these findings remain robust across multiple specifications. Mechanistically, interlocking director networks promote climate risk disclosure through information transparency and reputational capital. Furthermore, environmental regulation and media attention positively moderate this relationship. We also find important heterogeneity: the positive impact is more pronounced in state-owned enterprises and regions with high physical climate risk exposure. This study provides empirical evidence on the role of director networks in corporate climate risk disclosure and offers practical insights for firms, investors, and regulators in emerging markets to improve disclosure practices and promote sustainable development goals. Full article

This study innovatively moves beyond traditional mono-method research by employing an integrated approach that synergizes corpus linguistics and text mining. Through sentiment, thematic, and collocational analyses, it critically examines the representation of China’s image in European media coverage of the China–EU electric vehicle dispute. Initially, sentiment analysis of news reports concerning EU tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles was conducted. Subsequently, four key themes emerged from analyzing a corpus consisting of 202 news articles: “market reaction,”; “trade war,” “China’s response,” and “dialogue and negotiation.” Finally, collocation analysis of the keywords “China” and “Beijing” reveals four main images of China in European media: China is framed as the unfair-subsidy provider, threatener, negotiator, and defender. The key conclusion is that European media coverage is characterized by discursive ambivalence, simultaneously portraying China as both a threat and a partner. These findings are significant as they illuminate how media discourse serves as a key arena where the economic and political complexities of the China–EU trade conflict are negotiated, legitimized, and managed. Full article

With the growing prominence of large technology firms and the shift in news dissemination driven by social media, scholars have increasingly examined how public discourse about these companies shapes financial markets. Focusing on Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft during the transitional period of January 2015–January 2020, this study evaluates attention and sentiment across traditional news media, social media, and web search in relation to stock market outcomes. We use relatively fine-grained weekly data to link media attention and sentiment to stock returns, volatility, and trading volume. To compare media sentiment across sources, we apply FinBERT-based sentiment analysis, drawing on advances in domain-specific language modeling tailored to financial texts. Results show that social media sentiment (Twitter), exerts a consistently positive and significant influence, while the effects of traditional news media (New York Times) and web search activity (Google Trends) are more irregular. The impact also varies across firms: Twitter sentiment is strongly related to trading volume and volatility for Amazon and Microsoft, but appears less influential for Apple, whose large trading base may dilute the effect. These findings offer a historical baseline for media–finance interactions and highlight how text analysis illuminates the pre-COVID era of big technology firms. Full article

Background and aim: This study examines the impact of the digital world on the purchasing behaviour of Generation Z, with a specific focus on the Slovak context. While existing literature often analyses global or non-Slovak populations, this work provides a contextually grounded analysis of how digital exposure, online marketing communications and social networks shape the purchasing preferences of Slovak Generation Z consumers. Novelty and contributions: First comprehensive analysis in Slovakia linking digital environment exposure, social media marketing communications, and Generation Z purchase preferences within a clearly defined national context. We integrate context-specific variables (local digital infrastructure, cultural norms, and marketing practices) to identify regionally relevant determinants of online consumer behaviour. We formulate and test hypotheses about the interactions between digital experiences and online marketing channels to produce actionable insights for Slovak marketers and e-commerce platforms. Research problem and uniqueness: Problem: How do specific elements of the digital environment influence the purchasing decisions of Generation Z in Slovakia, and which online channels and content types are most effective for this demographic in the local context? Uniqueness: No prior Slovak study has systematically mapped the interrelations between digital exposure, marketing communication on social networks, and purchasing preferences of Generation Z in a local setting. This work contributes to understanding culturally and economically specific factors shaping digital purchasing behaviour in Slovakia. Methods: Quantitative study based on a questionnaire survey with a representative Slovak sample. Hypotheses are tested using appropriate statistical analyses to explore relationships between digital exposure, social network marketing communications, and Generation Z purchasing preferences. Expected results and practical implications: Identification of the most influential digital channels and content types for Slovak Generation Z consumers. Practical recommendations for local brands and e-commerce platforms to optimise digital campaigns targeting Slovak youth; insights into cultural nuances in consumer behaviour within Slovakia. Full article

The Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) represents the total value of goods and services supplied by ecosystems, serving as a key indicator that connects ecological well-being with economic development and supports the achievement of sustainable development goals. This study selected Beijing’s Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park as its research subject, establishing a GEP assessment system for two major services: regulating services and cultural services. By integrating market-based valuation approaches with social media data to support the assessment of cultural services, this study calculated the 2023 GEP of the wetland park. Finally, based on the social media data and the GEP accounting results, value enhancement strategies for Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park were proposed. Key findings include: (1) The total GEP of Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park reached 155.01 million CNY in 2023, with a per-unit-area value of 35.47 million CNY/km². (2) Among regulating services, climate regulation and water purification were the primary contributors, accounting for 66.10% and 11.76% of the total value, respectively. Cultural service value primarily derived from tourism and health preservation services. (3) Social media analysis showed that visitors valued the park’s natural landscapes while noting service and facility shortcomings, indicating a balanced assessment combining both positive and negative perceptions. (4) Based on GEP assessment and social perception analysis, this study provides pathways for realizing the ecosystem service value of Wild Duck Lake National Wetland Park from three aspects. The main contribution of this study lies in developing an integrated framework for GEP accounting and enhancement in national wetland parks, providing a scientific foundation for their sustainable development. Full article

Social media has become a dominant channel for food marketing, particularly targeting youth through visually engaging and socially embedded content. This study investigates how young adults visually engage with food advertisements on social media and how specific visual and contextual features influence purchase intention. Using eye-tracking technology and survey analysis, data were collected from 35 participants aged 18 to 25. Participants viewed simulated Instagram posts incorporating elements such as food imagery, branding, influencer presence, and social cues. Visual attention was recorded using Tobii Pro Spectrum, and behavioral responses were assessed via post-surveys. A 2 × 2 design varying influencer presence and food type showed that both features significantly increased visual attention. Marketing cues and branding also attracted substantial visual attention. Linear regression revealed that core/non-core content and influencer features were among the strongest predictors of consumer response. The findings underscore the persuasive power of human and social features in digital food advertising. These insights have implications for commercial marketing practices and for understanding how visual and social elements influence youth engagement with food content on digital platforms. Full article

Increasingly unpredictable market demands and the growing market of biosimilars all facilitate lower manufacturing costs. Cell culture media additives have significant potential to improve cell-specific productivity. It has been reported that the treatment of CHO cells with resveratrol results in a reduction in viable cell density and a significant increase in cell-specific productivity. In the present study, we apply our knowledge of resveratrol gained on immortal cell lines to elucidate the details of resveratrol’s effects on mAb-producing CHO cells. In the present study, we confirm that resveratrol causes cell cycle arrest, which results in the increased protein productivity of mAb-producing cells. We demonstrate for the first time that resveratrol induces ER stress in mAb-producing CHO lines, presumably by increasing the amount of specific protein produced. It was found that ER stress did not induce oxidative stress, and cell viability could not be enhanced by apoptosis, necroptosis, or ferroptosis inhibitors. Therefore, these cell deaths may not play a role in the process. We also describe, for the first time, that resveratrol is able to increase ATP levels in mAb-producing CHO cells, thereby providing additional energy to mAb-producing CHO cells. This increased ATP synthesis is likely due to the intensification of respiration, not an increase in the number of mitochondria. Full article