Algorithm-driven personalization, content exposure, and live commerce: The roles of engagement and trust in Gen Z impulse buying on TikTok Shop
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Received November 4, 2025;Accepted February 25, 2026;Published May 8, 2026
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Author(s)Basuki RachmatLink to ORCID Index: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3842-3234
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DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.21511/im.22(2).2026.13
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Article InfoVolume 22 2026, Issue #2, pp. 179-195
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Type of the article: Research Article
Abstract
This research aims to investigate the impact of algorithmic personalization, exposure to content, social interaction and live commerce experiences on impulse buying among Generation Z users of TikTok Shop in Indonesia with real-time engagement acting as a mediator and perceived trust acting as a moderator. This study relates directly to the increasing influence of recommendation algorithms and interactive live commerce on consumer behavior and specifically on Generation Z who are digital natives and very often make impulse purchases. A quantitative survey was conducted using purposive sampling to collect data from valid participants aged 17-27 living in Indonesia and actively using TikTok Shop between January and April 2025. Ethical principles were applied, including voluntary participation, informed consent, anonymity, and confidentiality in relation to the use of data. 576 data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling and Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). Findings reveal that algorithmic personalization (β = 0.069; p = 0.048); content exposure (β = 0.881; p < 0.001); and social interaction (β = 0.088; p = 0.017) have significant positive influence on impulse buying. All three of these relationships are mediated by real-time engagement with small but significant (β = 0.011; p = 0.037) effect size. The relationship between perceived trust and live commerce experience moderates the effects of live commerce experience and enhances the strength of the effect; however, the moderating effect of perceived trust on algorithmic personalization and social interaction was not as strong. The results of this research indicate that the main motivating factors of impulse buying in social commerce are based on algorithmic recommendations through personalization, social connection, and live commerce.
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JEL Classification (Paper profile tab)D12, M31, L81, O33
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References40
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Tables7
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Figures2
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- Figure 1. Research framework
- Figure 2. Output model
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- Table 1. Respondent profile
- Table 2. Validity and reliability test
- Table 3. Model fit
- Table 4. Hypothesis test result
- Table A1. Level of agreement
- Table A2. Demographic information
- Table A3. Questionnaire
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Conceptualization
Basuki Rachmat
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Data curation
Basuki Rachmat
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Formal Analysis
Basuki Rachmat
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Investigation
Basuki Rachmat
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Methodology
Basuki Rachmat
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Project administration
Basuki Rachmat
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Supervision
Basuki Rachmat
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Validation
Basuki Rachmat
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Visualization
Basuki Rachmat
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Writing – original draft
Basuki Rachmat
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Writing – review & editing
Basuki Rachmat
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Conceptualization
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Effect of work motivation and job satisfaction on employee performance: Mediating role of employee engagement
Problems and Perspectives in Management Volume 19, 2021 Issue #3 pp. 162-174 Views: 22590 Downloads: 10331 TO CITE АНОТАЦІЯTechnological developments are things that must be followed by companies to achieve a competitive advantage to improve performance. To achieve and improve performance, companies need active employee engagement by encouraging motivation and fulfilling their job satisfaction. This study aims to analyze the effect of motivation and job satisfaction on performance with employee engagement as a mediating variable. The research sample is Information Technology (IT) companies located in the cities of Jakarta and Bandung, Indonesia. Research respondents are system developers who handle system development activities for a project or part of an ongoing project. By using the convenience sampling technique 103 responses were obtained from IT developers. The research model analysis method uses Partial Least Square (PLS) with SMART PLS Ver 3.0 software. Empirical findings prove that motivation has a positive effect on the performance of IT employees, while job satisfaction is independent. Employee engagement does not directly affect employee performance, but the effect of mediation through motivation and job satisfaction can have a significant effect on employee performance. The research findings have managerial implications, in increasing high employee involvement, motivation needs to be encouraged to be more active and innovative, and facilitate the achievement of the desired results.
Acknowledgment
This study was made possible because of the full support of the Region III Education Service Institute (LL-DIKTI III), the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, and the Research Center at Mercu Buana University, Jakarta. -
Quantitative study of selected Facebook marketing communication engagement factors in the optics of different post types
Ľudovit Nastišin
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Richard Fedorko
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Vladimir Vavřečka
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Radovan Bačik
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Martin Rigelsky
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/im.15(3).2019.02
Innovative Marketing Volume 15, 2019 Issue #3 pp. 16-25 Views: 9226 Downloads: 1388 TO CITE АНОТАЦІЯThe objective of the research was to identify statistically significant differences in selected engagement indicators on Facebook – likes and shares in relation to the different types of content that brands on this platform add to. The analysis was performed on a sample of three global companies from the top 25 most valuable brands in the world and their posts. Using quantitative statistical methods – MANOVA (Multivariate analysis of variance) and Gammes-Howell post hoc test, a total of 1,280 brand posts were analyzed in order to differentiate the liking and sharing of content types. Data collection was carried out in the first half of 2018. The findings pointed to two statistically significant differences that were also interpreted in the discussion of the research. The findings have shown that in case of liking, in two cases out of three, there is a statistically significant difference in terms of the type of content added, when photos came out as those with the greatest potential to get like from Facebook users and fans. At the same time, the same finding appeared in the case of sharing, which is an even stronger form of engagement. Likewise, photos were shown to be the most promising in terms of potential content sharing by Facebook users and fans. The study provided some clues as to where this research should go further and explore the relationship more deeply in view of the more extensive quantitative research, and also the potential qualitative approach. The future research directions include analyzing companies of different types and sizes and also taking into account the contribution from other social networks with the same or similar engagement indicators.
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Flash sale and online impulse buying: Mediation effect of emotions
Martaleni Martaleni
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Ferdian Hendrasto
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Noor Hidayat
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Amin Alfandy Dzikri
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Ni Nyoman Kerti Yasa
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/im.18(2).2022.05
Innovative Marketing Volume 18, 2022 Issue #2 pp. 49-59 Views: 5768 Downloads: 2670 TO CITE АНОТАЦІЯFlash sale (FS) is a marketing strategy that is widely used and developed in sales through e-commerce. The implementation of the FS strategy is to provide discounts or special propositions on products offered within a certain time limit. Time restrictions aim to encourage consumers’ emotions to make impulse buying (IB). This study examines the effect of consumer emotions as a mediating variable on IB among Shoppee consumers in Indonesia caused by FS activities that are not carried out on certain important days. The required data were collected through the distribution of online questionnaires to respondents who, in the last three months, had made transactions through Shoppee e-commerce platform. A total of 150 questionnaires are analyzed using PLS-SEM. The results of the analysis show that the flash sale strategy carried out by the Shoppee e-commerce platform in Indonesia has a direct effect on increasing consumer emotions. This means that the higher the intensity of the FS promotion, the stronger the influence on consumer emotions. Emotions increase IB. FS has no significant effect on increasing IB. Subsequent findings show that FS indirectly has a positive and significant effect on IB through emotions. In other words, this study proves that the emotions are a mediating variable in online IB. This study is helpful for companies in developing appropriate strategies for their promotions in utilizing consumers’ impulse buying behavior by using strategies that trigger consumers’ emotions.

