The Golden Age: The Role of Senior Influencers In the Egyptian Marketing Landscape

Author

Faculty of Mass Communication, Ahram Canadian University

Abstract

The study explores senior influencers as a unique subgroup within older adults, focusing on how they are changing perceptions of aging in Egypt and their role in influencer marketing. Utilising social identity and stereotype theories, it employs qualitative methods to analyse content and marketing strategies. It also captures the insights of Egyptian marketers, providing a comprehensive view of the efficacy of senior influencers in contemporary marketing. Findings reveal that senior influencers challenge age-related stereotypes and societal expectations, skillfully using technology to create content. However, marketers expressed mixed feelings; they acknowledged the potential of senior influencers but expressed concerns about connecting with younger consumers. The study underscores the importance of maintaining a consistent niche for authenticity and advocates for specialization to enhance effective brand partnerships.

Keywords


Alassani, R. and Göretz, J. (2019). Product placements by micro and macro influencers on Instagram. In Social Computing and Social Media. In Proceedings of Communication and Social Communities: 11th International Conference, Orlando, USA, 251-267. Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21905-5_20
Amatulli, C., Peluso, A. M., Guido, G., & Yoon, C. (2018). When feeling younger depends on others: The effects of social cues on older consumers. Journal of Consumer Research, 45(4), 691–709. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcr/ucy034
Azungah, T. (2018). Qualitative research: deductive and inductive approaches to data analysis. Qualitative research journal18(4), 383-400. https://doi.org/10.1108/QRJ-D-18-00035
Bae, H., & Jo, S. H. (2022). The impact of age stereotype threats on older consumers' intention to buy masstige brand products. International Journal of Consumer Studies48(1).  https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12867
Bae, H., Jo, S. H., & Lee, E. (2021). Why do older consumers avoid innovative products and services?. Journal of Services Marketing35(1), 41-53. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSM-10-2019-0408
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
CAPMAS. (2024). The International Day of elderly people [Press release]. Retrieved December 22, 2024, from https://www.capmas.gov.eg/Pages/GeneralNews.aspx?page_id=1. 
Chang, S. T., & Wu, J. J. (2024). A content-based metric for social media influencer marketing. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 124(1), 344-360. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-05-2022-0303
Chatzigeorgiou, C. (2017). Modelling the impact of social media influencers on behavioural intentions of millennials: The case of tourism in rural areas in Greece. Journal of Tourism, Heritage & Services Marketing (JTHSM)3(2), 25-29. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1209125
Chen, W. T., & Hsieh, M. H. (2024). Keep the Influencers! Exploring How Sacrifice Enhances “Creator Self-Identity” and Providing Practical Recommendations by the Marketing Mix: An Exploratory Study. SAGE Open14(4), 1-16. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/21582440241290572
Chen, Y. R. R., & Schulz, P. J. (2016). The effect of information communication technology interventions on reducing social isolation in the elderly: a systematic review. Journal of medical Internet research18(1). https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.4596
Conde, R., & Casais, B. (2023). Micro, macro and mega-influencers on instagram: The power of persuasion via the parasocial relationship. Journal of business research158, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2023.113708
Costa, N., Ambrens, M., Delbaere, K., Wilson, L., Li, A., & Sherrington, C. (2024). A systems approach to assist policy action to prevent falls among community-dwelling older people in Australia. Public Health Research & Practice34(1). https://doi.org/10.17061/phrp3412405 
Dencheva, V. (2024, February 6). Influencer marketing market size worldwide from 2016 to 2024: in billion U.S. dollars. Statista.  Retrieved September 22, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1092819/global-influencer-market-size/
Dey, D., & Tripathi, P. (2024). Too old for photosharing?: (re) construing successful aging through select Instagram handles of Indian older female influencers. Educational Gerontology, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601277.2024.2368318
Edwards, S. (2022). Branded dreams, boss babes: Influencer retreats and the cultural logics of the influencer para-industry. Social Media+ Society8(3), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051221116846
Eisend, M. (2022). Older People in Advertising. Journal of Advertising51(3), 308-322. https://doi.org/10.1080/00913367.2022.2027300
Eyada, B. (2018). An Empirical study of Banned Advertising in Egypt and Violated Morals. International Design Journal8(2), 27-37. http://doi.org/10.21608/idj.2018.85865
Farinosi, M. (2023). Deconstructing the stigma of ageing: The rise of the mature female influencers. European Journal of Cultural Studies26(3), 313-335. https://doi.org/10.1177/13675494221102188
Farinosi, M., Fortunati, L. (2020). Young and Elderly Fashion Influencers. In: Gao, Q., Zhou, J. (eds) Human Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. Technology and Society. HCII 2020. Lecture Notes in Computer Science. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50232-4_4
Flick, U. (2018). Triangulation in data collection. InL Flick, U. (ed.) The Sage Handbook of Qualitative Data Collection. London: Sage.
Franco, P. (2023). Older Consumers and Technology: A Critical Systematic Literature Review. AMS Review13(1-2), 92-121. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-023-00256-4
Ghosh, M. (2023). Female Instagram elderly influencers countering the aging narratives. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications10(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-023-02323-4
Grigsby, J. L., & Skiba, J. (2022). Using influencers to build self–brand connections: The impact of influencer presence, ad source, and consumer age. Journal of Interactive Advertising22(3), 207-222. https://doi.org/10.1080/15252019.2022.2096157
Guo, L., Xu, J., Zhu, R., Peng, L., & Wang, S. (2024). Self-presentation of grey-haired influencers on TikTok: active ageing in China. Continuum38(2), 193-213. https://doi.org/10.1080/10304312.2024.2348691
Hassan, E.T.A. (2022). The impact of digitization on government services in Egypt. Journal of the Higher Institute for Specific Studies, 2(2), 1181-1221. http://doi.org/10.21608/HISS.2024.280390.1326
Hogg, M. A., & Turner, J. C. (1987). Intergroup behaviour, self‐stereotyping and the salience of social categories. British Journal of Social Psychology26(4), 325-340. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8309.1987.tb00795.x
Hund, E., & McGuigan, L. (2019). A shoppable life: Performance, selfhood, and influence in the social media storefront. Communication, Culture, & Critique, 12(1), 18–35. https://doi.org/10.1093/ccc/tcz004
Ibrahim, R.S. (2022). Evaluation of Accessible Tourism Services as a Modern Trend for Tourism Development in Egypt. Journal of Tourism, Hotels and Heritage, 5(3), 219-234. https://doi.org/10.21608/SIS.2022.174935.1104
Jerrentrup, M. (2023). The Grand Style. Encountering elderly influencers. Aisthesis. Pratiche, linguaggi e saperi dell’estetico16(1), 147-158. https://doi.org/10.36253/Aisthesis-14379
Kemp, S. (2023, January 26). Digital 2023: Local country headlines report. Datareportal. Retrieved December 1, 2023, from https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2023-local-country-headlines
Langmann, E. (2023). Vulnerability, ageism, and health: is it helpful to label older adults as a vulnerable group in health care?. Medicine, Health Care and Philosophy26(1), 133-142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11019-022-10129-5
Leung, X. Y., Zhong, Y. S., & Sun, J. (2025). The impact of social media influencer's age cue on older adults' travel intention: The moderating roles of travel cues and travel constraints. Tourism Management106, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2024.104979
Levy, B. R., & Banaji, M. R. (2002). Implicit ageism. In T. D. Nelson (Ed.), Ageism: Stereotyping and prejudice against older persons, 49–75. The MIT Press.
Mao, J., Li, Q., Du, M., Wu, Z., & Liang, W. (2024, March). Analyzing GrandInfluencers on Douyin: Thematic Trends and Communication Tactics in Online Discourse. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference on Culture, Design and Social Development (CDSD 2023), Advances in Social Science, Education and Humanities Research, 834. https://doi.org/10.2991/978-2-38476-222-4_21
McCorquodale, S. (2019). Influence: How social media influencers are shaping our digital future. Bloomsbury Publishing.
McFarlane, A., & Samsioe, E. (2020). # 50+ fashion Instagram influencers: cognitive age and aesthetic digital labours. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal24(3), 399-413. https://doi.org/10.1108/jfmm-08-2019-0177
Miranda, S., Antunes, A., Gama,A. (2022). Challenging old paradigms about aging and social networks: Seniors as social influencers. In R. Pocinho, C. Margarido, R. Santos, L. Marques, B. Trindade, S. Silva & S. Gordo (Eds.), Paradigmas do envelhecimento, 35-49.
Montepare, J. M. (2009). Subjective age: Toward a guiding lifespan framework. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 33(1), 42–46. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025408095551
Montepare, J. M. (2020). An exploration of subjective age, actual age, age awareness, and engagement in everyday behaviors. European Journal of Ageing, 17(3), 299–307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10433-019-00534-w
Nadia, S. G., Dewi, S. S., & Kim, S. J. (2022). Fashion Granfluencers as a Cultural Intermediary in Fashion and Style Case Study on Iris Apfel. Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles46(6), 1105-1127. https://doi.org/10.5850/JKSCT.2022.46.6.1105
Niemelä-Nyrhinen, J. (2007). Baby Boom Consumers and Technology: Shooting Down Stereotypes. Journal of Consumer Marketing24(5), 305-312. https://doi.org/10.1108/07363760710773120
Orange Egypt, (2017, September 4). Ynat’ahl Yametlha’onash- Orange World Cup [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqpdB6w4Fv4
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1108/10748120110424816
Radcliffe, D., Abuhmaid, H., & Mahliaire, N. (2023, March 31). Social media in the Middle East 2022: A year in review. University of Oregon. https://scholarsbank.uoregon.edu/items/a0bea9b1-6c41-47ee-b1db-e2c29fd8097a
Roubal, O. (2023). Older People and the Construction of Virtual Identities in the Digital Culture. OBM Geriatrics7(2), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.geriatr.2302235
Sen, K., Prybutok, G., & Prybutok. V. (2022) The use of digital technology for social wellbeing reduces social isolation in older adults: A systematic review. SSM - Popul Health,17https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.101020
Sharma, A., Dwivedi, M., Sharma, L., & Sharma, V. (2022). Social Media Influencers: Present Scenario and the Road Ahead. Mathematical Statistician and Engineering Applications71(4), 1063-1072. https://doi.org/10.17762/msea.v71i4.595
Steele, C. M. (1997). A threat in the air: How stereotypes shape intellectual identity and performance. American Psychologist, 52(6), 613–629. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.52.6.613
The United Nations. (2024). Substantive inputs in the form of normative content for the development of a possible international standard on the focus areas “right to health and access to health services” and “social inclusion”. Retrieved September 22, 2024, from http://bit.ly/3WH13bv
The World Health Organisation. (2023). Progress Report on the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing, 2021–2023. Switzerland: WHO.