COVID-19 has drastically affected the business sector all around the globe and its subsequent implications have changed the buying habits of consumers. This comparative inquiry seeks to evaluate the online buying behavior of customers amid different scenarios for developing an empirical idea how different social media platforms influenced the online purchase behavior of customers before and after global pandemic. The population of this study primarily encompasses the social media users. Objective responses are gathered from 100 respondents using online survey questionnaire and data is analyzed using statistical analysis techniques. The results have indicated an increase in the customer shift from physical shopping to the online shopping and also indicated that different social sharing platforms including Instagram and Facebook positively influenced the purchase intention of customers during the times of crisis.

The media has played a significant role in shaping national identity, a subject of growing interest globally and, more specifically, in Pakistan, where it has actively influenced public perceptions of the nation’s identity and its position in the world. This paper seeks to explore the construction of national identity in Pakistan and how various forms of media ranging from state-controlled traditional outlets to social media platforms have constituted and transformed Pakistan as both a space for and a component of what is recognized as national identity. In constructing the ‘image’ of Pakistan after independence, the media particularly state media was instrumental in promoting a unified Muslim identity in South Asia. In contemporary times, however, the proliferation of private and social media has diversified these narratives, resulting in a fractured yet dynamic national identity.

The paper discusses how discounting via social media impacts impulsive purchase behavior and brand loyalty among generation Z consumers, based on the statistical analysis of the data involving 353 participants, flash sales and promotional codes mostly produce new transactions but they develop the relationships between the consumers and the brand on a transactional, price-sensitive scale, rather than a lasting affective one. One interesting observation establishes social evidence especially through influencer recommendation as the dominant force behind brand trust at temporary promotional stages. The factual data indicate that discounting alone cannot serve to maintain long term retention but rather companies need to introduce plausible social evidence to move consumers away towards short term reactions and long-term compliance. These are the findings that give strategic advice to marketers working in the competitive social commerce environment.