Author

  • Faizal Azrin Abdullah

    • Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Sumaryadi

    • Politeknik Pariwisata NHI Bandung, Indonesia
    • Indonesia
  • Mohd Nazimi Had Nordin

    • Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia
    • Malaysia
  • Salamiah A. Jamal

    • Faculty of Hotel and Tourism Management, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia
    • Malaysia

Abstract

This study takes a closer look at how social media marketing shapes students’ views on viral food trends at UiTM Shah Alam. The focus is on three major aspects—social media influence, pricing perception, and brand familiarity. Since university students are avid social media users, understanding their responses to digital food promotions can offer practical insights for marketers. Using a survey completed by 430 students, the study uncovers how content on platforms like Instagram and Facebook boosts curiosity and influences food trial decisions. The research also shows that students care deeply about perceived value for money, making price a decisive factor in their choices. Well-known brands, meanwhile, tend to earn more trust and engagement. The findings indicated the importance of well-targeted digital marketing strategies and underscore the potential of using brand power and cost appeal to drive student interest in trending food products. Future studies should widen the participant pool to explore whether these results hold for other demographics.

Keywords

References

  • Ali, R., Komarova, V., Aslam, T., Peleckis, K. 2022. The impact of social media
  • marketing on youth buying behaviour in an emerging country. Entrepreneurship and Sustainability Issues, 9(4), 125-138. http://doi.org/10.9770/jesi.2022.9.4(6)
  • Ao, Y., Lee, S., & Kim, D. (2023). The impact of social media on consumer behavior. Journal of Consumer Research, 50(1), 20-35.
  • Arici, H. E., & Arici, N. C. (2021). The Role of Social Media Marketing Activities on International Students’ Brand Preference: A Study on English-Speaking Universities of Germany. In Shneikat, B., Cobanoglu, C. and Tanova, C. (Ed.), Global Perspectives on Recruiting International Students: Challenges and Opportunities (pp. 51–64). https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-83982-518-720211003
  • Azzahara, R. V., & Yafiz, M. (2024). Analysis Of Brand Image Strategy to Enhance Purchase Interest in Culinary Products. Indonesian Interdisciplinary Journal of Sharia Economics (IIJSE), 7(1), 85-99. https://e-journal.uac.ac.id/index.php/iijse/article/view/3707/1503
  • Büyükda?, N. (2021). The effect of brand awareness, brand image, satisfaction, brand loyalty and WOM on purchase intention: Empirical research on social media. Business & Management Studies: An International Journal (BMIJ), 9(4), 1380-
  • 1398. https://doi.org/10.15295/bmij.v9i4.1902
  • Canet, L., de Luna, M. C., & Garcia, A. D. (2021). Impact of social media in promoting food products. Journal of Marketing, 34(2), 122-134.
  • Chuang, S., & Lin, H. N. (2021). Effects of social media marketing on online consumer behavior. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 45(3), 508-523.
  • Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage Publications.
  • Dwivedi, Y. K., Ismagilova, E., Hughes, D. L., Carlson, J., Filieri, R., Jacobson, J., Jain, V., Karjaluoto, H., Kefi, H., Krishen, A. S., Kumar, V., Rahman, M. M., Raman, R., Rauschnabel, P. A., Rowley, J., Salo, J., Tran, G. A., & Wang, Y. (2021). Setting the future of digital and social media marketing research: Perspectives and research propositions. International Journal of Information Management, 59, 102168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2020.102168
  • Faisal, A., & Ekawanto, I. (2022). The role of Social Media Marketing in increasing Brand Awareness, Brand Image and Purchase Intention. Indonesian Management and
  • Accounting Research, 20(2), 185-208. http://dx.doi.org/10.25105/imar.v20i2.12554
  • Groves, R. M., Fowler, F. J. Jr., Couper, M. P., Lepkowski, J. M., Singer, E., & Tourangeau, R. (2011). Survey methodology (2nd ed.). Wiley.
  • Hasan, M., & Sohail, M. S. (2020). The Influence of Social Media Marketing on Consumers’ Purchase Decision: Investigating the Effects of Local and Nonlocal Brands. Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 32(3), 123-135. https://doi.org/10.1080/08961530.2020.1795043
  • Hasan, M., & Sohail, M. S. (2020). The Influence of Social Media Marketing on Consumers’ Purchase Decision: Investigating the Effects of Local and Nonlocal Brands. Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/08961530.2020.1795043
  • Irshad, M., Ahmad, M. S., & Malik, O. F. (2020). Understanding consumers' trust in social media marketing environment. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 48(11), 1196-1212. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-07-2019-0225
  • Israel, G. D. (2013). Determining sample size. University of Florida IFAS Extension.
  • Jiang, F., Zhang, P., & Jia, L. (2023). Viral marketing: The path from novelty to normalcy in consumer products. Journal of Marketing Research, 60(1), 45-61.
  • Konuk, F. A. (2019). The influence of perceived food quality, price fairness, perceived value and satisfaction on customers’ revisit and word-of-mouth intentions towards organic food restaurants. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 50, 103–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.05.005
  • Lee, M., & Johnson, L. K. (2022). Price Perceptions in the Social Media Context: The Value of Viral Information. Journal of Retailing, 98(1), 123-140.
  • Liu, H-L., & Wang, Y-N. (2019). Interrelationships between Viral Marketing and Purchase Intention via Customer-Based Brand Equity. Journal of Business and Management Sciences, 7(2), 72–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.12691/jbms-7-2-3
  • Lohr, S. L. (2019). Sampling: Design and analysis (2nd ed.). Cengage Learning.
  • Luong, T-B., & Ho, C-H. (2023). The influence of food vloggers on social media users: A study from Vietnam. Heliyon, 9(7). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e18259
  • Martinez-Ruiz, M. P., Ruiz-Palomino, P., Izquierdo-Yusta, A., & Pick, D. (2023). The influence of food values on satisfaction and loyalty: Evidence obtained across restaurant types. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 33, 100770. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2023.100770
  • Motoki, K., Suzuki, S., Kawashima, R., & Motoaki, S. (2022). A Combination of Self-Reported Data and Social-Related Neural Measures Forecasts Viral Marketing Success on Social Media. Journal of Interactive Marketing 52(1), 99–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intmar.2020.06.003
  • Mustikasari, A., & Widaningsih. S. (2019). The Influence of Viral Marketing toward Brand Awareness and Purchase Decision. In 1st International Conference on Economics, Business, Entrepreneurship, and Finance (ICEBEF 2018). https://doi.org/10.2991/icebef-18.2019.138
  • Nguyen, C., & Nguyen, D. (2020). A Study of Factors Affecting Brand Awareness in the Context of Viral Marketing in Vietnam. International Journal of Advanced Science and Technology, 29(5), 5401–5411. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3906104
  • Onorati, M. G., & Giardullo, P. (2020). Social media as taste re-mediators: emerging patterns of food taste on TripAdvisor. Food, Culture & Society, 23(3), 347–365. https://doi.org/10.1080/15528014.2020.1715074
  • Oraedu, C., Izogo, E. E., Nnabuko, J., & Ogba, I-E. (2021). Understanding Electronic and Face-to-Face Word-of-Mouth Influencers: An Emerging Market Perspective. Management Research Review, 44(1), 112-132. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/MRR-02-2020-0066
  • Puriwat, W., & Tripopsakul, S. (2021). The Role of Viral Marketing in Social Media on Brand Recognition and Preference. Emerging Science Journal, 5(6), 855-867. http://dx.doi.org/10.28991/esj-2021-01315
  • Sadom, N. Z.M., Yusoff, S. H. M., & Sauh, S. H. M. (2023). The Relationship Between Social Media Marketing, Trust, Reputation and Purchase Intention: Empirical Evidence from Fast-Food Industry. Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing. https://doi.org/10.1080/08974438.2023.2246957
  • Salleh, M. M., Abd Hamid, Z., Ramly, A. S. M., Zakaria, F. A. M., & Abu Bakar, N. F. (2021). Social Medias’ Influences on Food Popularity Amongst Malaysian University Students. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(13). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v11-i13/8540
  • Sankar, J. P. (2019). Social Media on Buying Behavior – An Impact Study. European Journal of Business & Social Sciences, 7(6), 53-66. https://journals.eduindex.org/index.php/ejbss
  • Schivinski, B., Langaro, D., & Shaw, C. (2019). The influence of social media communication on consumer’s attitudes and behavioral intentions concerning brand-sponsored events. Event Management, 23(6), 835–853. https://doi.org/10.3727/152599518X15403853721268
  • Smith, J., & Taylor, E. (2022). Branding and Consumer Perception: A Study on the Impact of Brand Recognition and Trust. Marketing Science, 41(2), 234-250.
  • Tan, G. W. H., & Ng, K. W. (2018). The influence of viral marketing on consumers' purchase intention. Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 5(4), 27-36.
  • Weber, P., Ludwig, T., & Michel, L. K. (2023). The role of technology use in food practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 31, 1-12, 100687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2023.100687
  • Zhang, g. (2023). The Influence of Social Media Marketing on Consumers' Behavior. In Proceedings of the 2023 International Conference on Management Research and Economic Development, 20(1), 119-124. http://dx.doi.org/10.54254/2754-1169/20/20230181
  • Zheng, S. (2023). Safeguarding food heritage through social media? Between heritagization and commercialization. International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 31, 100678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgfs.2023.100678

Downloads

No downloads have been recorded for this article yet. Figures appear here once readers begin downloading the full text.

How to Cite

Abdullah, F. A., Sumaryadi, Had Nordin, M. N., & A. Jamal, S. (2025). Digital Bites: Unpacking UiTM Students’ Appetite for Viral Food Trends Driven by Social Media. Information Management and Business Review, 17(3(I), 565-573. https://doi.org/10.22610/imbr.v17i3(I).4502

Share this article

Section

Research Paper

Published

2025-09-13

Submissions

Have research to publish? Information Management and Business Review welcomes submissions.

Make a Submission