How young people's decisions about food are influenced by their use of social media in New Zealand
type: CreativeWork
description: Introduction: There is increased exposure to food-related content through various media (e.g., television), including the addition of social media (SM), which can influence food decisions. Healthy food choices can positively affect physical and mental wellbeing, whereas wrong food choices may have short term or long-term ill effects on human health. Young adults, being the largest user group of SM, the overall aim of the research is to explore how young peoples’ (18-25 years of age) decisions about food are influenced by their use of SM in New Zealand (NZ). A literature review exploring the influence of SM on food decisions has revealed how food-related information in terms of recipes; visually attractive food pictures; ordering online food can influence multiple food decisions in a day for a user. But in those studies, the influence of those aspects is explored individually, and an integrative approach of exploration is missing. In addition, limited research is available from the NZ context. To fill this research gap, in my doctoral research considering multiple avenues of influence, I have explored how young people’s decisions about food are influenced by their use of SM in NZ. In addition to exploring various influences of SM on food decisions, I have also explored young adults’ critical understanding of SM and if the users are considering the healthfulness of the food as they get influenced by SM and decide to consume the food. These inclusions were done for a wholesome understanding of the research topic. Methods: A sequential, exploratory, mixed methods research design was employed. A meta-narrative literature review informed about four artefacts as potential avenues that may influence the users. The four artefacts are: food-related information on SM; online food bloggers and influencers; SM marketing and online food ordering; food pictures and SM regarding visual hunger. In my research, I conducted three studies to explore different food-related interactions …
abstract: Introduction: There is increased exposure to food-related content through various media (e.g., television), including the addition of social media (SM), which can influence food decisions. Healthy food choices can positively affect physical and mental wellbeing, whereas wrong food choices may have short term or long-term ill effects on human health. Young adults, being the largest user group of SM, the overall aim of the research is to explore how young peoples’ (18-25 years of age) decisions about food are influenced by their use of SM in New Zealand (NZ). A literature review exploring the influence of SM on food decisions has revealed how food-related information in terms of recipes; visually attractive food pictures; ordering online food can influence multiple food decisions in a day for a user. But in those studies, the influence of those aspects is explored individually, and an integrative approach of exploration is missing. In addition, limited research is available from the NZ context. To fill this research gap, in my doctoral research considering multiple avenues of influence, I have explored how young people’s decisions about food are influenced by their use of SM in NZ. In addition to exploring various influences of SM on food decisions, I have also explored young adults’ critical understanding of SM and if the users are considering the healthfulness of the food as they get influenced by SM and decide to consume the food. These inclusions were done for a wholesome understanding of the research topic. Methods: A sequential, exploratory, mixed methods research design was employed. A meta-narrative literature review informed about four artefacts as potential avenues that may influence the users. The four artefacts are: food-related information on SM; online food bloggers and influencers; SM marketing and online food ordering; food pictures and SM regarding visual hunger. In my research, I conducted three studies to explore different food-related interactions …
author: Ray, Saswata
license: https://researchspace.auckland.ac.nz/docs/uoa-docs/rights.htm
date published: 2023
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:04:34Z
provider: University of Auckland
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: ResearchSpace@Auckland

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: https://hdl.handle.net/2292/66548