Exploring users’ switching intention and behavior on social networking sites: Linear and nonlinear perspectives

• Published in: Computer standards and interfaces Vol. 83; p. 103660
• Main Authors: Lin, Chun-Nan, Huang, Hsieh-Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2023; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Behavior; Cusp catastrophe model; Decision analysis; Empirical analysis; Habit; Human behavior; Multivariate statistical analysis; Nonlinear systems; Qualitative analysis; Social networking site; Social networks; Social research; Structural equation modeling; Structural models; Switching; Switching behavior; Switching intention; Habit; Switching behavior; Social networking site; Cusp catastrophe model; Switching intention; Structural equation modeling
• ISSN: 0920-5489; 1872-7018
• DOI: 10.1016/j.csi.2022.103660

•We examined the relationship between SNS users’ switching intention and behavior.•The qualitative and quantitative analyses were used to analyze.•Functional, emotional, and social values positively affected switching intentions.•Switching intentions positively affected switching behaviors.•Habits negatively moderated switching intentions on switching behaviors. The increasing integration of computers and networks into society has profoundly affected our lives in recent years. In Taiwan, use of SNSs – especially Facebook – has become the main action for the Internet users; accordingly, a number of scholars have explored people's intention to use, or actual use of, SNSs. However, few studies have investigated how and why users stop using one SNS and begin using another from the linear perspective. The findings are incomplete for the human behaviors which are complex and nonlinear systems. The purpose of this study is therefore to explore the relationship between SNS users’ switching intention and switching behavior based on structural equation modeling (SEM) and cusp catastrophe model (CCM). The key factors for the switching intentions and behaviors of SNS users were examined through empirical research, and a structural model was established. The model, which involved habits as a mediating factor, was used to conduct a qualitative and quantitative analysis on the switching behaviors of SNS users from a nonlinear perspective. This model will provide a new method for future researchers to analyze nonlinear behaviors as well as a dynamic decision support model for service providers to improve their business operation.