Hoaxes and information manipulation on nutrition in social networks: analysis of two cases of use of neuromarketing techniques around sugar

Abstract

This article studies persuasive communication and neuromarketing techniques applied to food advertising on social networks. Specifically, an analysis of campaigns related to sugar consumption is carried out. This study aims to explain some predominant factors in the viralization of nutritional hoaxes through the analysis of the cases of: "149 calories of happiness" from Coca-Cola and the cocoa cream campaign of the influencer Carlos Ríos of the Real Fooding movement. According to the theory of change, the methodology used response to techniques such as the Backwards Mapping analysis to assess the social impact. The theoretical foundation uses the cognitive biases of neuromarketing as a reference, following several specialized authors whose methodology is expanded. The observation of the scope of the campaigns analyzed in Social Networks traces the causal relationship between the effect on the public and the impact generated in the established period. The viralization and impact of these campaigns have been measured based on quantitative and qualitative indicators. Based on the results obtained, we have verified how the controversy over the information's reliability has affected the campaign's perception, the degree of user satisfaction, and the reputation of the promoters of the products in question.