The Virtuous Cycle: Social Media Influencers’ Potential for Kindness Contagion

Abstract

Social media influencers have received significant recognition for their marketing capabilities but are also identified as contributing to several negative societal consequences. This commentary explores social media influencers’ emergent role and associated practices in the spread of kindness to benefit the larger society. Informed by parasocial and construal level theories, we introduce the concept of kindness contagion and conceptualize social media influencers’ kindness contagion cycle. The framework includes six authentic kindness practice forms in which influencers are most likely to reinforce their kindness-embedded relationship (e.g., posts of encouragement to be kind and kindness meditations). By integrating parasocial and construal level theories we go beyond the commonly discussed marketization capabilities for this actor to help generate insights into how a social media influencer can build an intimate, trusting relationship with their followers, to spread kindness among consumers. Practical and theoretical implications are also discussed in addition to future research directions.