Research Article

Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study

Volume: 16 Number: 2 December 31, 2025
TR EN

Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study

Abstract

This study examines the impact of perceived greenwashing in digital advertising on consumer trust. The primary objective is to reveal how sustainability-themed messages are presented in social media environments and how they shape consumer trust and levels of engagement. Using the BrandMentions digital monitoring platform, a dataset of 10,012 sustainability-related posts was collected from various digital platforms in Türkiye between September 2024 and September 2025. The content was evaluated through sentiment analysis, risk categories (uncertainty, lack of evidence, false claims), and types of supporting evidence. The findings indicate that sustainability discourses are predominantly presented in an informative and emotionally neutral tone. Although relatively rare, negative content (e.g., criticism, skepticism) generated significantly more comments and shares, thereby fostering stronger audience engagement. Moreover, messages lacking concrete evidence or containing ambiguous statements were more likely to reduce consumer trust and reinforce perceptions of greenwashing. Clear differences were observed across platforms; overall, the results underscore that consumer trust plays a decisive role in sustainability communication and that transparent, verifiable messages strengthen this trust. The study provides both conceptual and practical contributions to understanding consumer behavior in the context of perceived greenwashing in digital advertising.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research received no external funding.

Ethical Statement

This study uses only publicly available data without any personal identifiers, ensuring compliance with digital research ethics (Townsend & Wallace, 2016). Since the analysis does not involve direct interaction with individuals, nor private accounts or protected content, institutional ethical approval was not required. Brand names were anonymized at the sectoral level (e.g., “X sector brand”) to minimize reputational bias and maximize analytical objectivity.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Information Systems For Sustainable Development and The Public Good, Graph, Social and Multimedia Data, Digital Marketing

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

September 22, 2025

Acceptance Date

December 22, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 16 Number: 2

APA
Okkıran, Ş. (2025). Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study. Journal of Internet Applications and Management, 16(2), 64-83. https://doi.org/10.34231/iuyd.1789154
AMA
1.Okkıran Ş. Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study. iuyd. 2025;16(2):64-83. doi:10.34231/iuyd.1789154
Chicago
Okkıran, Şehnaz. 2025. “Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study”. Journal of Internet Applications and Management 16 (2): 64-83. https://doi.org/10.34231/iuyd.1789154.
EndNote
Okkıran Ş (December 1, 2025) Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study. Journal of Internet Applications and Management 16 2 64–83.
IEEE
[1]Ş. Okkıran, “Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study”, iuyd, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 64–83, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.34231/iuyd.1789154.
ISNAD
Okkıran, Şehnaz. “Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study”. Journal of Internet Applications and Management 16/2 (December 1, 2025): 64-83. https://doi.org/10.34231/iuyd.1789154.
JAMA
1.Okkıran Ş. Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study. iuyd. 2025;16:64–83.
MLA
Okkıran, Şehnaz. “Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study”. Journal of Internet Applications and Management, vol. 16, no. 2, Dec. 2025, pp. 64-83, doi:10.34231/iuyd.1789154.
Vancouver
1.Şehnaz Okkıran. Perceived Greenwashing in Social Media Advertising and Consumer Trust: An Experimental Study. iuyd. 2025 Dec. 1;16(2):64-83. doi:10.34231/iuyd.1789154