NEWS & EVENTS

PhD candidate Yan Wang, under the supervision of Professor and Associate Dean Kara Chan of COMS, has been awarded a competitive grant from the American Academy of Advertising (AAA). Wang's research proposal, "Likes vs. Lies: Development and Validation of a Survey Instrument to Measure Social Media Influencer's Inauthenticity," was selected as a finalist in the AAA Non-Dissertation Research Grant Competition, receiving $500 in funding.

This grant, established by the AAA in 2025, supports student research. Wang expressed gratitude for the opportunity, stating, "I'm truly grateful to the former AAA President, Professor Don Jugenheimer, for generously sponsoring the funds, which support students in conducting research. I'm honoured to be one of the first recipients. I'm extremely thankful to my supervisor, Kara Chan; I wouldn't be here without her guidance!"

Wang's research tackles the timely concept of inauthenticity influence on social media. "While previous studies have mainly emphasized the pursuit of authenticity, this research focuses on the overlooked experience of inauthenticity," Wang explains. "The project aims to develop a comprehensive scale to measure influencer inauthenticity, providing a valuable new tool for understanding how consumers interact with online personalities."

This recognition builds upon Wang's previous success in receiving the AAA Doctoral Dissertation Grant Competition Award in 2024.