Why do people purchase virtual goods? A uses and gratification (U&G) theory perspective |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Aalto University, Finland;2. Optentia Research Focus Area, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa;3. School of Business and Management, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lappeenranta, Finland;4. Graduate Institute of Digital Learning and Education, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan;5. College of Engineering, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;6. Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Computing & IT, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;7. College of Business Administration, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia |
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Abstract: | Few literature studies have investigated the relationships between different uses and gratifications (U&Gs) of mobile instant messaging (MIM) apps, continuation, and purchase intentions. To address this gap, the researchers aimed to examine the influence of the content, social, process, and technology U&Gs of MIM on continuation intentions toward MIMs, and purchase intentions toward virtual goods available on MIMs. A comprehensive research model was developed based on the U&G theory, which was tested using cross-sectional data from 309 Japanese MIM users. The study considered six different U&Gs of MIM as independent variables and purchase intentions towards stickers and continuation intentions towards MIM as dependent variables. The study results suggest that exposure U&G has a significant positive association with MIM sticker purchase intentions. The entertainment and affection U&G are positively associated with continuation intentions towards MIM use. The study contributes to the literature by investigating U&Gs that motivate MIM users to have both positive purchase intentions toward virtual goods, such as stickers, and continuation intentions toward MIMs. The study has significant theoretical and practical implications for both researchers and practitioners who are interested in virtual goods, the virtual economy, MIM apps, social media, new media, and the service economy. |
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Keywords: | Continuation intentions Mobile instant messaging Purchase intentions Social media Uses and gratifications |
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