[kodah]

I think people virtue signal when they dominate conversation with pet political topics. This is especially evident if they continually find non-sequitur ways to include moral and pet topics in regular conversation. I don't think that either of the examples you've brought up are virtue signaling, but introducing the topic of Starbucks cups to redirect a conversation into how "the country has lost its way" is a good example. An example of this on the left is how certain folks will redirect any conversation into one about oppression.

The impact of virtue signalling is pretty evident. Ever seen how in order to make a statement on something you have to first identify yourself as part of that something that you're criticising? That's a direct byproduct of virtue signaling.

More or less, it's a form of manipulation.