Digital Influence, Consumer Trust, and Sustainable Market Growth:
Published 23 July 2026
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Abstract
India's Vision 2047 blueprint positions digital transformation, inclusive innovation, and sustainable economic development as the cornerstones of its centenary developmental aspirations. Against this backdrop, the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure — with approximately 820 million internet users and 467 million active social media users (IAMAI & Kantar, 2023; Statista, 2023) — has fundamentally reshaped consumer engagement dynamics, particularly in lifestyle product markets. India's influencer marketing industry, currently valued at over Rs. 2,200 crore and expanding at an estimated 25-30 per cent annually (Statista, 2023), has emerged as a strategically significant channel for brand communication, market access, and enterprise visibility. This paper examines the interrelationship between digital influence, consumer trust, and sustainable market growth within the lifestyle product segment of Assam, a regional economy undergoing a meaningful structural transition toward sustainability-oriented enterprise development. Employing a secondary research design, the study synthesises peer-reviewed empirical literature, industry statistical reports, and regional policy documents through systematic thematic content analysis. A Systematic Literature Matrix (SLM) comprising twelve foundational studies is presented to map the theoretical and empirical landscape rigorously. The findings demonstrate that influencer credibility — operationalised across the dimensions of trustworthiness, expertise, and authenticity — functions as a primary antecedent of consumer trust, which in turn positively influences purchase intention and sustained brand engagement. The paper further argues that influencer-driven digital ecosystems serve as cost-effective promotional pathways for MSMEs, reducing structural market barriers and extending geographic reach. When anchored in sustainable business practices, such digital trust mechanisms can actively contribute to resilient, inclusive, and value-chain-anchored regional economic growth aligned with India's Vision 2047 objectives.