Entrepreneurial entry: The role of social media

Wei Wang, Qiaozhuan Liang, Raj V. Mahto, Wei Deng and Stephen X. Zhang

Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2020, vol. 161, issue C

Abstract: Despite the exponential growth of social media use, whether and how social media use may affect entrepreneurial entry remains a key research gap. In this study we examine whether individuals’ social media use influences their entrepreneurial entry. Drawing on social network theory, we argue that social media use allows individuals to obtain valuable social capital, as indicated by their offline social network, which increases their entrepreneurial entry. We further posit the relationship between social media use and entrepreneurial entry depends on individuals’ trust propensity based on the nature of social media as weak ties. Our model was supported by a nationally representative survey of 18,873 adults in China over two years. As the first paper on the role of social media on entrepreneurial entry, we hope our research highlights and puts forward research intersecting social media and entrepreneurship.

Keywords: Social media; Entrepreneurial entry; Entrepreneurial action; Trust propensity; Social network; New venture creation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (10)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:161:y:2020:i:c:s004016252031163x

DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2020.120337

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