An Empirical Examination of Continuance Intention of Social Network Sites

Social network sites (SNSs) have drawn extensive attention among scholars and practitioners. In this study, we aim at explaining the continuance of SNSs. Specifically, we propose and empirically test a research model of continuance intention to use SNSs. We also examine the relative impacts of SNS-specific motivation factors and social factors derived from the SNS environment on continuance intention to use SNSs. Building upon expectation disconfirmation theory (EDT), our research model was empirically tested with 204 Facebook users through an online survey. While prior studies focus mostly on the SNS-specific motivations, our results demonstrated that social factors derived from the SNS environment play a dominant role in explaining the continuance intention to use SNSs. In particular, this study suggested that perceived critical mass, social presence, and social norms are influential and major factors that determine continuance intention. We believe that this study provides significant contributions to both researchers and practitioners in the context of SNSs

Factors affecting users' intention to continue using virtual community

A research model of individual users' continuance intention to use virtual communities is proposed and empirically examined in this study. To test this model, an online survey was conducted among users of a web-based Bulletin Board System sponsored by a local university in mainland China. Consistent with prior information systems continuance studies, the results showed that satisfaction was the most salient determinant of continuance intention to participate in the virtual community while sense of belonging had a significant but weaker influence on it. Contrary to the proposed hypotheses, only positive disconfirmations of purposive value and entertainment value significantly affected user satisfaction. Implications for both researchers and practitioners are discussed. © 2007 IEEE