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January 22, 2026Encyclopedia0 citationsOpen Access

Brand Activism: Gen Z and Socio-Political Branding

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HOHelen O’SullivanFBFarnaz BabaeeMPMartyn Polkinghorne

Key Points

  • This research explores how brand activism influences Gen Z's trust and loyalty towards brands.
  • Analyzed the definitions of branding and its components such as brand trust and brand equity.
  • Examined the concept of brand activism and socio-political branding.
  • Identified the behaviors and expectations of Gen Z consumers regarding brand involvement in social issues.
  • Brand activism significantly enhances brand trust among Gen Z consumers.
  • Socio-political branding aligns brands more closely with the values and expectations of Gen Z.
  • Increased brand equity is observed when brands actively engage in socio-political issues.

Abstract

Branding refers to the distinctiveness of an organization that differentiates it from its competitors and builds loyalty with customers. Brand trust is the confidence consumers have in a company to deliver consistently against their expectations of the brand. Brand equity is the commercial value that a brand has and is linked to consumer perception and loyalty. Culture refers to the expected behaviors of a defined group of people, e.g., customers. Brand activism is when an organization takes a visible ideological stance associated with a specific issue or social concern. Socio-political branding refers to the practice of using brand activism specifically to connect with certain key stakeholder groups.

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Cite This Study

O’Sullivan et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6971be6b642b1836717e31b4https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia6010027
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