Istanbul Gelisim University IISBF SosyoCom: Monthly Events and News Bulletin (Issue: 61, January 2026)

Abstract

The Age of Algorithmic Persuasion: AI-Generated Fake Reviews and the Erosion of Influencer Trust With the acceleration of digitalization, consumers’ purchasing decisions have increasingly come to rely on online reviews and influencer recommendations. In recent years, however, advances in artificial intelligence have introduced a new challenge that has profoundly disrupted this ecosystem: AI-generated fake product reviews and the parallel growth of an influencer trust crisis. These contents—designed to resemble authentic user experiences, linguistically flawless, and highly persuasive—now constitute one of the most fragile fault lines in digital marketing.