Why people use social networking sites passively: An empirical study integrating impression management concern, privacy concern, and SNS fatigue
Aslib Journal of Information Management
ISSN: 2050-3806
Article publication date: 26 April 2018
Issue publication date: 8 May 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the underlying mechanism of how passive social networking site (SNS) use happens from aspects of impression management concern, privacy concern, and SNS fatigue, and then examine whether sense of membership can work as a moderator in this process.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors proposed a research model by integrating impression management concern, privacy concern, and SNS fatigue. A total of 301 valid online questionnaires were collected, and these data were assessed by PLS-SEM.
Findings
The results show that both impression management concern and privacy concern have direct and positive effects on passive SNS use, and meanwhile they can also indirectly and positively affect passive SNS use through SNS fatigue. Besides, the relationships between impression management concern and its outcomes (SNS fatigue and passive SNS use) can be moderated by sense of membership.
Originality/value
This research is novel in focusing on the formation of passive SNS use and providing new insight into some factors which can trigger users’ passive behaviors in SNS usage. The findings will contribute to SNS literature by offering a well proven conceptual model that facilitates the understanding of passive SNS use.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (91747208), the MOE (Ministry of Education in China) Liberal arts and Social Sciences Foundation (17YJA630149), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2015B23514; 2016B46814).
Citation
Zhu, X. and Bao, Z. (2018), "Why people use social networking sites passively: An empirical study integrating impression management concern, privacy concern, and SNS fatigue", Aslib Journal of Information Management, Vol. 70 No. 2, pp. 158-175. https://doi.org/10.1108/AJIM-12-2017-0270
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited