Effects of human versus virtual human influencers on the appearance anxiety of social media users

Untitled work

(2013) · Cited by 44,563

The future of social media in marketing

Appel, G., Grewal, L., Hadi, R., & Stephen, A. T. (2020) · Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science · doi:10.1007/s11747-019-00695-1 · Cited by 1,893

Instagram and YouTube bloggers promote it, why should I buy? How credibility and parasocial interaction influence purchase intentions

Sokolova, K., & Kefi, H. (2020) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.01.011 · Cited by 1,650

What makes an AI device human-like? The role of interaction quality, empathy and perceived psychological anthropomorphic characteristics in the acceptance of artificial intelligence in the service industry

Pelau, C., Dabija, D.-C., & Ene, I. (2021) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2021.106855 · Cited by 889

Social Media and Body Image Concerns: Current Research and Future Directions

Fardouly, J., & Vartanian, L. R. (2016) · Current Opinion in Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2015.09.005 · Cited by 801

Facebook use, envy, and depression among college students: is facebooking depressing?

Tandoc, E. C., Ferrucci, P., & Duffy, M. (2015) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2014.10.053 · Cited by 781

The Role of Social Comparison in the Effect of Magazine Advertisements on Women's Mood and Body Dissatisfaction

Tiggemann, M., & McGill, B. (2004) · Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1521/jscp.23.1.23.26991 · Cited by 710

Attractive celebrity and peer images on Instagram: Effect on women's mood and body image

Brown, Z. A., & Tiggemann, M. (2016) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.08.007 · Cited by 667

Almost human? A comparative case study on the social media presence of virtual influencers

Arsenyan, J., & Mirowska, A. (2021) · International Journal of Human-Computer Studies · doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2021.102694 · Cited by 566

The impact of appearance comparisons made through social media, traditional media, and in person in women’s everyday lives

Fardouly, J., Pinkus, R. T., & Vartanian, L. R. (2016) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.11.002 · Cited by 559

Parasocial interactions with real and virtual influencers: The role of perceived similarity and human-likeness

Stein, J., Breves, P. L., & Anders, N. (2022) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/14614448221102900 · Cited by 501

Do social media platforms develop consumer panic buying during the fear of Covid-19 pandemic

Naeem, M. (2020) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102226 · Cited by 445

#BoPo on Instagram: An experimental investigation of the effects of viewing body positive content on young women’s mood and body image

Cohen, R., Fardouly, J., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A. (2019) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/1461444819826530 · Cited by 381

The Handbook of the Psychology of Communication Technology

(2015) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118426456 · Cited by 380

Opinion leadership vs. para-social relationship: Key factors in influencer marketing

Farivar, S., Wang, F., & Yuan, Y. (2020) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2020.102371 · Cited by 358

Emoji rhetoric: a social media influencer perspective

Ge, J., & Ulrike Gretzel, B. (2018) · Journal of Marketing Management · doi:10.1080/0267257x.2018.1483960 · Cited by 349

The Perfect Storm: A Developmental-Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls' Body Image Concerns and Mental Health.

Choukas-Bradley, S., Roberts, S. R., Maheux, A. J., & Nesi, J. (2022) · Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review · doi:10.1007/s10567-022-00404-5 · Cited by 333

The Perfect Storm: A Developmental–Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls’ Body Image Concerns and Mental Health

Choukas-Bradley, S., Roberts, S. R., Maheux, A. J., & Nesi, J. (2021) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/ju92a · Cited by 331

“Stop the unattainable ideal for an ordinary me!” fostering parasocial relationships with social media influencers: The role of self-discrepancy

Aw, E. C.-X., & Chuah, S. H.-W. (2021) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.025 · Cited by 307

‘Selfie’-objectification: The role of selfies in self-objectification and disordered eating in young women

Cohen, R., Newton-John, T., & Slater, A. (2018) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2017.10.027 · Cited by 294

“I follow what you post!”: The role of social media influencers’ content characteristics in consumers' online brand-related activities (COBRAs)

Cheung, M.-L., Leung, W. K. S., Aw, E. C.-X., & Koay, K. (2022) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.102940 · Cited by 278

What Drives Gift-giving Intention in Live Streaming? The Perspectives of Emotional Attachment and Flow Experience

Li, Y., & Peng, Y. (2021) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2021.1885224 · Cited by 277

Influencer marketing: Homophily, customer value co-creation behaviour and purchase intention

Bu, Y., Parkinson, J., & Thaichon, P. (2022) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2021.102904 · Cited by 262

Development and validation of the Physical Appearance State and Trait Anxiety Scale (PASTAS)

Reed, D. L., Thompson, J. K., Brannick, M. Τ., & Sacco, W. P. (1991) · Journal of Anxiety Disorders · doi:10.1016/0887-6185(91)90032-o · Cited by 258

Effective influencer marketing: A social identity perspective

Farivar, S., & Wang, F. (2022) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103026 · Cited by 251

Social media, body image, and the question of causation: Meta-analyses of experimental and longitudinal evidence

de Valle, M. K., Gallego-García, M., Williamson, P., & Wade, T. D. (2021) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.10.001 · Cited by 221

Social media literacy protects against the negative impact of exposure to appearance ideal social media images in young adult women but not men

Tamplin, N. C., McLean, S. A., & Paxton, S. J. (2018) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2018.05.003 · Cited by 194

Do selfie-expectancies and social appearance anxiety predict adolescents’ problematic social media use?

Boursier, V., Gioia, F., & Griffiths, M. D. (2020) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2020.106395 · Cited by 189

Unique associations of social media use and online appearance preoccupation with depression, anxiety, and appearance rejection sensitivity

Hawes, T., Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., & Campbell, S. M. (2020) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.02.010 · Cited by 186

Snaps, Selfies, and Shares: How Three Popular Social Media Platforms Contribute to the Sociocultural Model of Disordered Eating Among Young Women.

Saunders, J. F., & Eaton, A. A. (2018) · Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking · doi:10.1089/cyber.2017.0713 · Cited by 169

The effect of physical appearance perfectionism and social comparison to thin-, slim-thick-, and fit-ideal Instagram imagery on young women’s body image

McComb, S. E., & Mills, J. S. (2021) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.12.003 · Cited by 159

The impact of no-makeup selfies on young women’s body image

Fardouly, J., & Rapee, R. M. (2019) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.01.006 · Cited by 150

Human likeness and attachment effect on the perceived interactivity of AI speakers

Kim, J., Kang, S., & Bae, J. (2022) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.02.047 · Cited by 147

Effects of thin-ideal instagram images: The roles of appearance comparisons, internalization of the thin ideal and critical media processing

Anixiadis, F., Wertheim, E. H., Rodgers, R. F., & Caruana, B. (2019) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.10.005 · Cited by 129

The effect of exposure to parodies of thin-ideal images on young women’s body image and mood

Slater, A., Cole, N., & Fardouly, J. (2019) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.03.001 · Cited by 125

Social media photo activity, internalization, appearance comparison, and body satisfaction: The moderating role of photo-editing behavior

Lee, M., & Lee, H.-H. (2021) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2020.106579 · Cited by 108

How we trust, perceive, and learn from virtual humans: The influence of voice quality

Chiou, E. K., Schroeder, N. L., & Craig, S. D. (2019) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2019.103756 · Cited by 107

Social media and body image: Modulating effects of social identities and user characteristics

Rodgers, R. F., & Rousseau, A. (2022) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.02.009 · Cited by 103

#Take idealized bodies out of the picture: A scoping review of social media content aiming to protect and promote positive body image

Rodgers, R. F., Paxton, S. J., & Wertheim, E. H. (2021) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.03.009 · Cited by 101

The effects of appearance and motion of virtual characters on emotional reactivity

Mousas, C., Anastasiou, D., & Spantidi, O. (2018) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2018.04.036 · Cited by 100

Matter over mind? How the acceptance of digital entities depends on their appearance, mental prowess, and the interaction between both

Stein, J., Appel, M., Jost, A., & Ohler, P. (2020) · International Journal of Human-Computer Studies · doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2020.102463 · Cited by 98

Persuasive avatars: The effects of customizing a virtual salesperson׳s appearance on brand liking and purchase intentions

Hanus, M. D., & Fox, J. (2015) · International Journal of Human-Computer Studies · doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2015.07.004 · Cited by 97

The effect of #enhancement-free Instagram images and hashtags on women’s body image

Tiggemann, M., & Zinoviev, K. (2019) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.09.004 · Cited by 96

Social media celebrities and new world order. What drives purchasing behavior among social media followers?

Wahab, H. K. A., Tao, M., Tandon, A., Ashfaq, M., & Dhir, A. (2022) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103076 · Cited by 95

Self-concept clarity and appearance-based social comparison to idealized bodies

Carter, J. J., & Vartanian, L. R. (2021) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.12.001 · Cited by 78

Virtual Reality Body Exposure Therapy for Anorexia Nervosa. A Case Report With Follow-Up Results

Porras-García, B., Serrano‐Troncoso, E., Carulla‐Roig, M., Soto-Usera, P., Ferrer‐García, M., Figueras-Puigderrajols, N., Yilmaz, L., Sen, Y. O., Shojaeian, N., & Gutiérrez‐Maldonado, J. (2020) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00956 · Cited by 73

Does #beauty have a dark side? Testing mediating pathways between engagement with beauty content on social media and cosmetic surgery consideration

Seekis, V., & Barker, G. (2022) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2022.06.013 · Cited by 73

The looking glass selfie: Instagram use frequency predicts visual attention to high-anxiety body regions in young women

Couture Bue, A. C. (2020) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2020.106329 · Cited by 72

Development and validation of the motivations for social media use scale (MSMU) among adolescents

Rodgers, R. F., Mclean, S. A., Gordon, C. S., Slater, A., Marques, M. D., Jarman, H. K., & Paxton, S. J. (2021) · Adolescent Research Review · doi:10.1007/s40894-020-00139-w · Cited by 64

Virtual vs. real body in exergames: Reducing social physique anxiety in exercise experiences

Song, H., Kim, J., & Lee, K. M. (2014) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2014.03.059 · Cited by 60

Judging a book by its cover? The role of unconventional appearance on social media influencers effectiveness

Fernandes, T., Nettleship, H. A., & Pinto, L. H. (2022) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.102917 · Cited by 57

I “like” the way you look: How appearance-focused and overall Facebook use contribute to adolescents' self-sexualization

Trekels, J., Ward, L. M., & Eggermont, S. (2018) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2017.12.020 · Cited by 56

A closer look at appearance and social media: Measuring activity, self-presentation, and social comparison and their associations with emotional adjustment.

Zimmer-Gembeck, M. J., Hawes, T., & Pariz, J. (2021) · Psychology of Popular Media · doi:10.1037/ppm0000277 · Cited by 56

In the uncanny valley, transportation predicts narrative enjoyment more than empathy, but only for the tragic hero

MacDorman, K. F. (2019) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2019.01.011 · Cited by 55

Positive appearance and functionality reflections can improve body satisfaction but do not protect against idealised media exposure

Mulgrew, K. E., Stalley, N. L., & Tiggemann, M. (2017) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2017.09.002 · Cited by 49

Social Effects of Virtual and Robot Companions

Krämer, N. C., Pütten, A. M. R.-V. D., & Hoffmann, L. (2015) · doi:10.1002/9781118426456.ch6 · Cited by 42

#nomakeupselfie: The impact of natural no-makeup images and positive appearance comments on young women’s body image

Politte‐Corn, M., & Fardouly, J. (2020) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.07.001 · Cited by 39

Self-compassion moderates the predictive effects of social media use profiles on depression and anxiety

Phillips, W. J., & Wisniewski, A. T. (2021) · Computers in Human Behavior Reports · doi:10.1016/j.chbr.2021.100128 · Cited by 39

Intimacy perception : Does the artificial or human nature of the interlocutor matter ?

Potdevin, D., Sabouret, N., & Clavel, C. (2020) · International Journal of Human-Computer Studies · doi:10.1016/j.ijhcs.2020.102464 · Cited by 38

Trust influences perceptions of virtual humans, but not necessarily learning

Schroeder, N. L., Chiou, E. K., & Craig, S. D. (2020) · Computers & Education · doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2020.104039 · Cited by 36

Targets of comparison and body image in women’s everyday lives: The role of perceived attainability

Fardouly, J., Pinkus, R. T., & Vartanian, L. R. (2021) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2021.04.009 · Cited by 34

A Quantitative Measurement Model for Persuasive Technologies Using Storytelling via a Virtual Narrator

Faddoul, G., & Chatterjee, S. (2020) · International Journal of Human-Computer Interaction · doi:10.1080/10447318.2020.1768670 · Cited by 28

Consumer warning versus systemic change: The effects of including disclaimer labels on images that have or have not been digitally modified on body image

Giorgianni, F. E., Danthinne, E. S., & Rodgers, R. F. (2020) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.07.007 · Cited by 25

Motivational virtual agent in e-learning: the roles of regulatory focus and message framing

Tan, S.-M., Liew, T. W., & Gan, C. L. (2020) · Information and Learning Sciences · doi:10.1108/ils-09-2019-0088 · Cited by 23

Interrelation Between Appearance Anxiety and Sexual Functions in Women: The Role of Surgical Scars, Morphologic Features, and Accompanying Depression

Cihan, A., & Cihan, E. (2019) · The Journal of Sexual Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.08.004 · Cited by 19

Preliminary development of an implicit association test to measure body dissatisfaction and predict disordered eating behaviors.

Velkoff, E. A., & Smith, A. R. (2020) · Body image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2020.05.005 · Cited by 11

Artificial intelligence-generated virtual influencer: Examining the effects of emotional display on user engagement

Yu, J., Dickinger, A., So, K. K. F., & Egger, R. (2023) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2023.103560 · Cited by 317

Making Sense? The Sensory-Specific Nature of Virtual Influencer Effectiveness

Zhou, X., Yan, X., & Jiang, Y. (2023) · Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1177/00222429231203699 · Cited by 257

The authentic virtual influencer: Authenticity manifestations in the metaverse

Koles, B., Audrezet, A., Moulard, J. G., Ameen, N., & McKenna, B. (2024) · Journal of Business Research · doi:10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.114325 · Cited by 254

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

Mouritzen, S. L. T., Penttinen, V., & Pedersen, S. (2023) · European Journal of Marketing · doi:10.1108/ejm-12-2022-0915 · Cited by 182

Virtually human: anthropomorphism in virtual influencer marketing

Dabiran, E., Farivar, S., Wang, F., & Grant, G. (2024) · Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services · doi:10.1016/j.jretconser.2024.103797 · Cited by 199

Is beauty in the AI of the beholder? Exposure to human vs. virtual influencers and effects on appearance dissatisfaction and interest in cosmetic surgery

Tian, H., Rouse, S. V., Yoon, S., & Harriger, J. A. (2026) · Body Image · doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2026.102130 · Cited by 1

Designed to Inspire or to Compare? Body Image Responses and User Engagement with Virtual Influencer Posts

Lin, H. Y., & Bi, N. (2026) · Journal of the Association for Information Systems

An unequal race for attention? A comparative case study between human and virtual influencers on social media

Enzig, J. (2022) · Repositório do ISCTE-IUL

How Uncanny Are Virtual vs. Human Influencers: A Text Mining Approach

Enzig, J., Guerreiro, J., & Loureiro, S. M. C. (2024) · Developments in marketing science: proceedings of the Academy of Marketing Science · doi:10.1007/978-3-031-80904-0_5 · Cited by 2

Digitally created body positivity: The effects of virtual influencers with different body types on viewer perceptions

Yeo, J., & Stein, J.-P. (2025) · Computers in Human Behavior Artificial Humans · doi:10.1016/j.chbah.2025.100231 · Cited by 3