Digital influencer activism: a literature review and future research agenda using TCCM framework
摘要
The present study explores how Digital Influencer Activism (DIA) conceptualizes and identifies theories, research nations, seminal articles, methodology, antecedents, mediating and moderating factors within DIA, and its consequences, accompanied by suggestions for further studies. The present study addresses the three research questions: What progress has been made in the theories, contexts, characteristics, and methodologies of previous research on digital influencer activism? What are the current research gaps in digital influencer activism according to the Theory, Context, Characteristics, and Methodology (TCCM) framework, and its implications? What opportunities remain for future research in digital influencer activism? The current study examines the literature from 2015 to April 2025, with emphasis on the business management domain. The publications were obtained from the Scopus database and examined in accordance with the SPAR-4-SLR standards. This study applies the TCCM framework, offering an integrated perspective and a concise bibliometric overview of the literature on DIA. This review charts the current DIA research landscape, traces its evolution, and identifies gaps. The study reveals the prominent focus areas, brings attention to underexplored issues, and deepens understanding of influencer activism and its implications. However, the current study is restricted to business and management papers listed in Scopus only. This literature review helps to understand the DIA mechanism and addresses significant gaps by examining the anatomy of the DIA literature and demonstrating how DIA influences social, personal, global, and current issues, shaping brand promotion and consumer buying strategies, where no prior research has been thoroughly organized and integrated into the DIA literature.