Social media and consumer engagement: A bibliometric analysis and future research directions
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DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/im.21(3).2025.15
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Article InfoVolume 21 2025, Issue #3, pp. 197-214
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Type of the article: Research Article
Abstract
As digital platforms reshape consumer–brand interactions, social media has become a critical driver of multidimensional consumer engagement. This bibliometric analysis synthesizes 245 peer-reviewed articles published between 2011 and 2024 to map the intellectual and thematic evolution of research on social media and consumer engagement. Through co-citation, co-authorship, and keyword co-occurrence analyses using VOSviewer, the study identifies six major thematic clusters, including consumer engagement and brand interaction in social media, brand loyalty and consumer behavior, social media marketing & tourism, digital marketing and engagement trends, demographic and content analysis in online advertising, and consumer behavior and social media marketing. Quantitatively, the results show a continuous annual increase in publications and highlight major contributions from the United States, the United Kingdom, and China. Notably, there has been a marked shift from surface-level interaction metrics toward more holistic engagement concepts that emphasize trust, emotional connection, and community co-creation. These insights offer theoretical advancements by expanding engagement frameworks and highlighting practical implications for marketers aiming to design authentic, resonant brand experiences. The study concludes with a set of actionable research directions to guide future exploration and support practitioners in navigating the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
- Keywords
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JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)M30, M31, M37
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References76
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Tables7
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Figures6
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- Figure 1. Growth trajectory of publications on social media and consumer engagement (2011–2024)
- Figure 2a. Co-occurrence by countries
- Figure 2b. Overlay visualization in co-occurrence by countries
- Figure 3. Author and index keywords comparison
- Figure 4. All keywords visualization (43 threshold)
- Figure 5. Author co-citations, 146 thresholds (18,949 authors)
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- Table 1. Search strategy and protocol used in the bibliometric analysis
- Table 2. Top 10 most cited papers
- Table 3. Number of publications by researchers’ institutional affiliation by country
- Table 4. Top 20 journals in citation and distribution
- Table 5. Top 15 most cited authors
- Table 6. Evolution of key themes across three periods
- Table 7. Sub-theme direction
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