{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,30]],"date-time":"2026-04-30T10:22:21Z","timestamp":1777544541423,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":65,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,9]],"date-time":"2021-04-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1617926400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JTAER"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The present consumer is surrounded every day by a huge amount of data and information and is confronted with the need to process the received information. Based on the existing content and the development of user generated content and fake news, consumers develop more and more a skeptical opinion regarding existing media information. In this paper we determine four clusters of consumers based on technology and artificial intelligence (AI) acceptance, skeptical opinion regarding media information, need for validation of received information and the influence of celebrity trend setters. For each of the clusters, we analyze the relationship between the skeptical opinion of consumers related to social media information and some present trends about the development of technologies and AI, the influence of celebrity trend setters and the need to check the received information. The results of the research show that the development of technologies and AI have an influence on the skeptical opinion related to media information for some consumer groups. The celebrity trend setter has a significant influence on the skeptical opinion only for one of the consumer groups. The need for information and news validation is related to the skeptical opinion regarding media information, but in different ways for the determined clusters.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jtaer16050069","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,9]],"date-time":"2021-04-09T10:05:21Z","timestamp":1617962721000},"page":"1231-1247","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":14,"title":["Clusters of Skeptical Consumers Based on Technology and AI Acceptance, Perception of Social Media Information and Celebrity Trend Setter"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6139-028X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Corina","family":"Pelau","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department for Business Administration, In Foreign Languages (UNESCO Chair), Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010371 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Mihai-Ionut","family":"Pop","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School in Business Administration, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010371 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Irina","family":"Ene","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School in Business Administration, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010371 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Laura","family":"Lazar","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Doctoral School in Business Administration, Bucharest University of Economic Studies, 010371 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"128","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2018.11.012","article-title":"The effect of negative energy news on social trust and helping behavior","volume":"92","author":"Han","year":"2019","journal-title":"Comput. Hum. Behav."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"254","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2017.05.007","article-title":"The effects of news consumption via social media and news information overload on per-ceptions of journalistic norms and practices","volume":"75","author":"Lee","year":"2017","journal-title":"Comput. Hum. Behav."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100570","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tsc.2019.05.004","article-title":"What predicts adolescents\u2019 critical thinking about real-life news? The roles of social media news consumption and news media literacy","volume":"33","author":"Ku","year":"2019","journal-title":"Think. Ski. Creat."},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"225","DOI":"10.1080\/10496491.2018.1443311","article-title":"Exploring the influence of celebrity worship on brand attitude, advertisement attitude, and purchase intention","volume":"25","author":"Singh","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Promot. Manag."},{"key":"ref_5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1016\/j.intmar.2018.09.001","article-title":"Fake news, real problems for brands: The impact of content truthfulness and source credibility on consumers\u2019 behavioral intentions toward the advertised brands","volume":"45","author":"Visentin","year":"2019","journal-title":"J. Interact. Mark."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Russell, S.J., and Norvig, P. (2016). Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach, Pearson Education Limited."},{"key":"ref_7","first-page":"32","article-title":"A brief history of decision making","volume":"84","author":"Buchanan","year":"2006","journal-title":"Harv. Bus. Rev."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Liaw, K., Driver, S., and Fraune, M.R. (2019). Robot sociality in human-robot team interactions. International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-030-30712-7_53"},{"key":"ref_9","first-page":"163","article-title":"When a talking-face computer agent is half-human and half-humanoid: Human identity and consistency preference","volume":"33","author":"Gong","year":"2007","journal-title":"Hum. Commun. Res."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1177\/1094670520902266","article-title":"Engaged to a robot? The role of AI in service","volume":"24","author":"Huang","year":"2021","journal-title":"J. Serv. Res."},{"key":"ref_11","first-page":"4","article-title":"Applications of artificial intelligence to contemporary and emerging educational challenges","volume":"2","author":"Chaudhri","year":"2013","journal-title":"AI Mag. Intell. Learn. Technol."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"655","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jacr.2018.01.010","article-title":"Artificial intelligence in health care: Brave new world or golden opportunity?","volume":"15","author":"Dreyer","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Am. Coll. Radiol."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"815","DOI":"10.1016\/j.compeleceng.2018.02.041","article-title":"Service robot system with integration of wearable Myo armband for specialized hand gesture human\u2013computer interfaces for people with disabilities with mobility problems","volume":"69","author":"Ding","year":"2018","journal-title":"Comput. Electr. Eng."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Alt, M.A., Saplacan, Z., Benedek, B., and Nagy, B.Z. (2021). Digital touchpoints and multichannel segmentation approach in the life in-surance industry. Int. J. Retail. Distrib. Manag., Early access.","DOI":"10.1108\/IJRDM-02-2020-0040"},{"key":"ref_15","first-page":"1064","article-title":"The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model in a in a low voltage switchgear company","volume":"19","author":"Ozmen","year":"2017","journal-title":"Amfiteatru Econ."},{"key":"ref_16","first-page":"18","article-title":"Forecasting the impact of artificial intelligence: The potential effects of AI on businesses, manufacturing, and commerce","volume":"49","author":"Makridakis","year":"2018","journal-title":"Foresight"},{"key":"ref_17","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"719","DOI":"10.1148\/radiol.2017171734","article-title":"From images to actions: Opportunities for artificial intelligence in radiology","volume":"285","author":"Kahn","year":"2017","journal-title":"Radiology"},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijinfomgt.2019.01.021","article-title":"Artificial intelligence for decision making in the era of Big Data\u2014Evolution, challenges and research agenda","volume":"48","author":"Duan","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.2753\/MIS0742-1222250405","article-title":"Evaluating anthropomorphic product recommendation gents: A social relationship perspective to de-signing information systems","volume":"25","author":"Qiu","year":"2009","journal-title":"J. Manag. Inf. Syst."},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"113","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jesp.2014.01.005","article-title":"The mind in the machine: Anthropomorphism increases trust in an autonomous vehicle","volume":"52","author":"Waytz","year":"2014","journal-title":"J. Exp. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref_21","first-page":"1","article-title":"Interaction between consumers and emerging forms of artificial intelligence: A discriminant analysis","volume":"30","author":"Pelau","year":"2020","journal-title":"Studia Univ. Vasile Goldis"},{"key":"ref_22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.24818\/EA\/2021\/56\/33","article-title":"The impact of artificial intelligence on consumers\u2019 identity and human skills","volume":"23","author":"Pelau","year":"2021","journal-title":"Amfiteatru Econ."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"240","DOI":"10.24818\/EA\/2021\/56\/240","article-title":"Are positive and negative outcomes of organizational justice conditioned by leader\u2013member exchange?","volume":"23","author":"Or","year":"2021","journal-title":"Amfiteatru Econ."},{"key":"ref_24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"907","DOI":"10.1108\/JOSM-04-2018-0119","article-title":"Brave new world: Service robots in the frontline","volume":"29","author":"Wirtz","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Serv. Manag."},{"key":"ref_25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"315","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2018.08.048","article-title":"Should AI-based, conversational digital assistants employ social- or task-oriented interaction style? A task-competency and reciprocity perspective for older adults","volume":"90","author":"Chattaraman","year":"2019","journal-title":"Comput. Hum. Behav."},{"key":"ref_26","first-page":"140","article-title":"How sustainability oriented is generation Z in retail? A literature review","volume":"18","author":"Dabija","year":"2019","journal-title":"Transform. Bus. Econ."},{"key":"ref_27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijinfomgt.2019.03.008","article-title":"Consumers acceptance of artificially intelligent (AI) device use in service delivery","volume":"49","author":"Gursoy","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int. J. Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kidwell, B., Calhoun, G.L., Ruff, H.A., and Parasuraman, R. (2012). Adaptable and adaptive automation for supervisory control of multiple autonomous vehicles. Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting, SAGE Publications.","DOI":"10.1037\/e572172013-089"},{"key":"ref_29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rossi, S., Santangelo, G., Staffa, M., Varrasi, S., Conti, D., and Di Nuovo, A. (2018, January 27\u201331). Psychometric evaluation supported by a social robot: Personality factors and technology acceptance. Proceedings of the 27th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN), Nanjing and Tai\u2019an, China.","DOI":"10.1109\/ROMAN.2018.8525838"},{"key":"ref_30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"7","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijinfomgt.2017.07.003","article-title":"Developing and validating a technology upgrade model","volume":"38","author":"Wang","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int. J. Inf. Manag."},{"key":"ref_31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2011.07.019","article-title":"Beyond technology acceptance: Brand relationships and online brand experience","volume":"66","author":"Veloutsou","year":"2013","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"186","DOI":"10.1287\/mnsc.46.2.186.11926","article-title":"A theoretical extension of the technology acceptance model: Four longitudinal field studies","volume":"46","author":"Venkatesh","year":"2000","journal-title":"Manag. Sci."},{"key":"ref_33","unstructured":"Manyika, J., Chui, M., Miremedi, M., Bughin, J., George, K., Wilmott, P., and Dewhurst, M. (2017). A Future That Works: Automation, Employment, and Productivity, McKinsey Global Institute. Available online: https:\/\/www.mckinsey.com\/featured-insights\/digital-disruption\/harnessing-automation-for-a-future-that-works."},{"key":"ref_34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"M\u00fcller, C.V., and Bostrom, N. (2016). Future progress in artificial intelligence: A survey of expert opinion. Fundamental Issues of Artificial Intelligence, Springer.","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-26485-1_33"},{"key":"ref_35","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1016\/j.engappai.2018.11.007","article-title":"Industry 4.0: A bibliometric analysis and detailed overview","volume":"78","author":"Muhuri","year":"2019","journal-title":"Eng. Appl. Artif. Intell."},{"key":"ref_36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Frey, C.B. (2019). The Technology Trap: Capital, Labor and Power in the Age of Automation, Princeton University Press.","DOI":"10.1515\/9780691191959"},{"key":"ref_37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"S\u00e1nchez-Cobarro, P.D.H., Molina-Castillo, F.-J., and Alcazar-Caceres, C. (2020). The brand-generated content interaction of Instagram stories and publications: A comparison between retailers and manufacturers. J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res., 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/jtaer16030031"},{"key":"ref_38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"112986","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eswa.2019.112986","article-title":"Fake news, rumor, information pollution in social media and web: A contemporary survey of state-of-the-arts, challenges and opportunities","volume":"153","author":"Meel","year":"2020","journal-title":"Expert Syst. Appl."},{"key":"ref_39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Busu, C., and Busu, M. (2017). The role of knowledge intensive business services on romania\u2019s economic revival and modernization at the regional level. Sustainability, 9.","DOI":"10.3390\/su9040526"},{"key":"ref_40","unstructured":"Tantau, A., Pelau, C., and Pop, M. (2018, January 11\u201313). Fake news in the energy industry. Proceedings of the 4th BASIQ International Conference on New Trends in Sustainable Business and Consumption 2018 (BASIQ), Heidelberg, Germany."},{"key":"ref_41","first-page":"5","article-title":"History of Fake News","volume":"53","author":"Burkhardt","year":"2017","journal-title":"Libr. Technol. Rep."},{"key":"ref_42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100116","DOI":"10.1016\/j.osnem.2020.100116","article-title":"Fake news agenda in the era of COVID-19: Identifying trends through fact-checking content","volume":"21","author":"Ceron","year":"2021","journal-title":"Online Soc. Netw. Media"},{"key":"ref_43","first-page":"150","article-title":"Fake news and ideological polarization: Filter bubbles and selective exposure on social media","volume":"34","author":"Spohr","year":"2017","journal-title":"Bus. Inf. Rev."},{"key":"ref_44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oncioiu, I., Popescu, D.M., Aviana, A.E., Serban, A., Rotaru, F., Petrescu, M., and Marin-Pantelescu, A. (2020). The role of environmental, social, and governance disclosure in financial transparency. Sustainability, 12.","DOI":"10.3390\/su12176757"},{"key":"ref_45","unstructured":"Ohleiser, A. (2021, March 16). This Is How Facebook\u2019s Fake-News Writers Make Money. The Washington Post, Available online: https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/news\/the-intersect\/wp\/2016\/11\/18\/this-is-how-the-internets-fake-news-writers-make-money\/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8b08a30bb277."},{"key":"ref_46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"106633","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2020.106633","article-title":"Would you notice if fake news changed your behavior? An experiment on the unconscious effects of disinformation","volume":"116","author":"Bastick","year":"2021","journal-title":"Comput. Hum. Behav."},{"key":"ref_47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"56","DOI":"10.1109\/MC.2018.3191268","article-title":"User data privacy: Facebook, Cambridge Analytica, and privacy protection","volume":"51","author":"Isaak","year":"2018","journal-title":"Computer"},{"key":"ref_48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1094","DOI":"10.1126\/science.aao2998","article-title":"The science of fake news: Addressing fake news requires a multidisciplinary effort","volume":"359","author":"Lazer","year":"2018","journal-title":"Science"},{"key":"ref_49","unstructured":"Dobbs, M. (2012). The Rise of Political Fact-Checking: How Reagan Inspired a Journalistic Movement: A Reporter\u2019a Eye View, New America Foundation. Available online: http:\/\/newamerica.net\/sites\/newamerica.net\/files\/policydocs\/The_Rise_of_Political_Fact-checking.pdf.pdf."},{"key":"ref_50","unstructured":"Nunes, M., and Correia, J. (2013, January 19\u201322). Improving trust using online credibility sources and social network quality in P2P marketplaces. Proceedings of the IEEE 8th Iberian Conference on Information Systems and Technologies 2013 (CISTI), Lisbon, Portugal."},{"key":"ref_51","unstructured":"Wardle, C. (2021, March 16). Fake News. It\u2019s Complicated. First Draft, Available online: https:\/\/firstdraftnews.org\/fake-news-complicated\/."},{"key":"ref_52","first-page":"63","article-title":"Endorser effectiveness by product type","volume":"19","author":"Friedman","year":"1979","journal-title":"J. Advert. Res."},{"key":"ref_53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"310","DOI":"10.1086\/209217","article-title":"Who is the celebrity endorser? Cultural foundations of the endorsement process","volume":"16","author":"McCracken","year":"1989","journal-title":"J. Consum. Res."},{"key":"ref_54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"145","DOI":"10.1080\/13527266.2018.1469543","article-title":"Consumer perceptions of online advertising of weight loss products: The role of social norms and perceived deception","volume":"26","author":"Lim","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Mark. Commun."},{"key":"ref_55","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"579","DOI":"10.1080\/0267257X.2020.1738525","article-title":"Behind influencer marketing: Key marketing deci-sions and their effects on followers\u2019 responses","volume":"36","author":"Giordano","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Mark. Manag."},{"key":"ref_56","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"164","DOI":"10.1080\/1062726X.2018.1514810","article-title":"Building theory in public relations: Interorganizational relationships as a public relations paradigm","volume":"30","author":"Ferguson","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Public Relat. Res."},{"key":"ref_57","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tobon, S., and Garc\u00eda-Madariaga, J. (2021). The influence of opinion leaders\u2019 eWOM on online consumer decisions: A study on social influence. J. Theor. Appl. Electron. Commer. Res., 16.","DOI":"10.3390\/jtaer16040043"},{"key":"ref_58","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"221","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jbusres.2019.11.048","article-title":"A customer-focused approach to improve celebrity endorser effectiveness","volume":"109","author":"Carlson","year":"2020","journal-title":"J. Bus. Res."},{"key":"ref_59","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"882","DOI":"10.1108\/03090561111119958","article-title":"Celebrity endorsement, brand credibility and brand equity","volume":"45","author":"Spry","year":"2011","journal-title":"Eur. J. Mark."},{"key":"ref_60","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"291","DOI":"10.1362\/026725799784870379","article-title":"Celebrity endorsement: A literature review","volume":"15","author":"Erdogan","year":"1999","journal-title":"J. Mark. Manag."},{"key":"ref_61","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"149","DOI":"10.2501\/JAR-52-2-149-165","article-title":"The economic value of celebrity endorsements","volume":"52","author":"Elberse","year":"2012","journal-title":"J. Advert. Res."},{"key":"ref_62","unstructured":"McCann, T. (2021, March 16). The Highest Paying Celebrity Endorsement Deals of All Time. Greeningz. Available online: http:\/\/www.greeningz.com\/entertainment\/highest-paying-celebrity-endorsement-deals\/."},{"key":"ref_63","first-page":"177","article-title":"The relationship between celebrity endorsement and brand image in the fastfood industry in Port Harcourt, Nigeria","volume":"7","author":"Ateke","year":"2015","journal-title":"Eur. J. Bus. Manag."},{"key":"ref_64","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.1080\/08961530.2018.1446679","article-title":"Who is the celebrity endorser? A content analysis of celebrity endorsements","volume":"30","author":"Schimmelpfennig","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Int. Consum. Mark."},{"key":"ref_65","first-page":"128","article-title":"Celebrity endorsement and consumer buying intention with relation to the television advertisement for perfumes","volume":"5","author":"Priyankara","year":"2017","journal-title":"Manag. Stud."}],"container-title":["Journal of Theoretical and Applied Electronic Commerce Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/0718-1876\/16\/5\/69\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,13]],"date-time":"2025-10-13T14:12:12Z","timestamp":1760364732000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/0718-1876\/16\/5\/69"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,9]]},"references-count":65,"journal-issue":{"issue":"5","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,8]]}},"alternative-id":["jtaer16050069"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/jtaer16050069","relation":{},"ISSN":["0718-1876"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0718-1876","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2021,4,9]]}}}