Factors influencing user participation in social media: Evidence from twitter usage during COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia

Abdulalem Mohammed and Alberto Ferraris

Technology in Society, 2021, vol. 66, issue C

Abstract: With increasing frequency, people are using social media sites to obtain timely information about the world's grand challenges and this phenomenon is amplified during crises. However, little research has been conducted to determine how people participate and how their involvement can be promoted on social media sites, although the critical role played by those sites has been well documented. Based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study develops and tests a theoretical model to establish the effect of several factors with survey data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Saudi Arabia. The relationship was verified on a sample of 213 respondents active on Twitter, using Partial Least Square (PLS). The study found that attitude, perceived behavioural control and subjective norm affect Twitter users' active participation significantly within the context of a time of crisis. It also found a positive effect of utilitarian and hedonic values and trust. These results will provide a more comprehensive evaluation of Twitter users in grand challenges (and more specifically during a crisis) and furnish academics and managers with instructive guidance.

Keywords: Social media; COVID-19; Emergency management; Active participation; Utilitarian value; Hedonic values (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:teinso:v:66:y:2021:i:c:s0160791x21001263

DOI: 10.1016/j.techsoc.2021.101651

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