Understanding And Predicting The Hedonic Social Networking Sites Quitting Intention:Information Systems Life Cycle In A Longitudinal Perspective

Social networking Sites (SNS) providers have introduced mobile application and the ubiquitous access afforded by mobile wireless devices has resulted in the rapid increase in the use of social networking mobile applications. The proliferation of the use of portable devices means that individuals are increasingly becoming free and flexible to engage in SNSs whenever and wherever they like. Although mobile-based SNSs enhance enjoyment and ease of users rewarding nature of this social monitoring may be leading to the emergence of compulsive checking behaviors and excessive engagement in social media, and therefore, leading to stress,negative social, work and personal conflict.The aim of this study is to examine the how excessive use of Smartphone-based SNSs for social,hedonic and cognitive uses leads to social, work and personal conflict, resulting in higher level of strain and thereby rational utilization and intention to discontinue the use of SNSs. We applied stimulus-organism-response theory (SOR) as the foundation of the model, and the proposed model is further refined using auxiliary theories such as P-E fit model, and self-regulatory theory.The P-E fit model was applied to address the relationships between technology-related conflict and strain. The moderating influence of guilt feelings was investigated into our research model,drawing from the relevant extant guilt feelings, self-reflective behavior literature, and self-regulatory theory. By studying the complete cycle of from adoption to termination, we can accurately predict, how SNSs user develops the intention to quit.An online survey was conducted among Smartphone-based SNS users in China to test the research model. The study obtained 505 responses from general Smartphone-based SNS applications users, including users of well known SNS apps such as WeChat, Weibo, and QQ.Covariance-based SEM technique was applied to estimate the research model through the two-step procedure establishing the estimates for both the measurement model and the structural model.It was found that the excessive usage of Smartphone-based SNS applications for social, hedonic and cognitive use promoted three major types of conflict, namely, technology-family,technology-personal, and technology-work. The level of hedonic use and cognitive use did not have any significant association with technology-work conflict. The results largely supported our-hypotheses regarding the relationships and the roles of these conflicts on the strain. It was also found that guilt feelings moderated (increases) the three negative conflict on the strain.This research provides important theoretical and practical implications. Most studies on problematic SNS use have only addressed addiction or problematic use as integrated pathological concepts that include several symptoms. The focus is on clarifying these concepts and to develop measurement model for diagnostic purposes. This research, on the other hand, takes a nomological approach and is one of the first to examine problematic SNS apps use by investigating its negative consequences. This research integrates different theoretical perspectives to provide a new empirically validated model that can guide future studies. The results provide insight to parents, employees, teachers, SNS providers, and users about the potential adverse outcomes of the excessive use of SNS apps.