Sinergi International Journal of Management and Business
Vol. 4 No. 2 (2026): May 2025

Viral Marketing Dynamics and Consumer Behavior in the Digital Age: A Systematic Literature Review

Musael Nur Aziza (Indonesia University of Education)
Ratih Hurriyati (Indonesia University of Education)
Puspo Dewi Dirgantari (Indonesia University of Education)



Article Info

Publish Date
25 May 2026

Abstract

Viral marketing has evolved from traditional word-of-mouth into a complex ecosystem shaped by algorithms, artificial intelligence, psychological mechanisms, and cross-platform interactions. This study synthesizes empirical findings from 2015–2025 to identify the cognitive, affective, and technological determinants influencing viral marketing effectiveness across multiple industries. Unlike prior reviews that primarily emphasized emotional triggers or structural network mechanisms, this study integrates technological, cognitive, and affective dimensions within a PRISMA-2020-guided Systematic Literature Review (SLR). Using Scopus as the primary database, complemented by metadata extraction through the Watase UAKE tool, a total of 34 peer-reviewed journal articles were analyzed. Findings reveal three key dimensions: (1) cognitive mechanisms such as credibility judgment and information diagnosticity; (2) affective triggers involving emotional arousal that shapes sharing and engagement; and (3) technological enablers including AI-driven seed targeting, optimization algorithms, and budget allocation models. The results highlight that viral marketing success emerges from the interaction between emotional activation, cognitive evaluation, and algorithmic amplification. Future research should explore cross-platform diffusion, ethical concerns regarding AI-personalization, and long-term consumer behavioral trajectories.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

ijmb

Publisher

Subject

Economics, Econometrics & Finance

Description

Sinergi International Journal of Management and Business with ISSN Number 2988-6252(Online) published by Yayasan Sinergi Kawula Muda, published original scholarly papers across the whole spectrum of management and business. The journal attempts to assist in the understanding of the present and ...