Consumer identification with brands has received extensive attention in the fields of consumer behavior and psychology. Such consumer-brand identification is conceptualized through the term “brand community”. A brand community is formed when a group of consumers express their interest towards and communicate their identities through a specific brand. The current literature shows that existing research on brand communities appears to be dominantly oriented towards tangible products. Accordingly, this research aims to explore the impact of social media marketing on brand community membership related to an intangible aspect of the self. Contextually, the research seeks to examine the impact of social media marketing of higher education institutions in Kuwait on students’ relevant associations. Students are at the core of higher education institutions due to identifying as both consumers and creators of value. A mixed method approach to data collection and analysis will be employed in this research. The findings of this research are expected to provide important implications for theory and practice.

This paper discusses the impact of social media on the e-commerce industry in Kuwait. The paper highlights the slow growth of e-commerce in the region due to traditional shopping practices and lack of knowledge about e-commerce instruments. The paper explores the potential of e-commerce in Kuwait and how social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are contributing to its growth. The paper also highlights the efforts of the Kuwaiti government in enhancing its e-Government potential and adopting laws in line with international regulations to make e-commerce more efficient and secure. Finally, the paper discusses the growth of regional-wide platforms in Kuwait and the shift towards the integration of digital technologies into the national economy.