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Time flies when chatting online: a social structure and social learning model to understand excessive use of mobile instant messaging

Chuang Wang (School of Business Administration, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China)
Jun Zhang (International Institute of Finance, School of Management, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China)
Matthew K.O. Lee (Information Systems, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong)

Information Technology & People

ISSN: 0959-3845

Article publication date: 1 November 2021

Issue publication date: 7 December 2022

567

Abstract

Purpose

Widespread concerns about excessive use of mobile instant messaging (MIM) have inspired research in different disciplines. However, the focus thus far tends to be on diagnostics and cognitive predictors. There is little understanding from the socio-technical perspective to capture the drivers of excessive use of MIM. To address this research gap, the authors aim to enrich existing literature by adopting a social structure and social learning model (SSSLM) to understand the excessive use of MIM. The authors argue that excessive MIM use is developed and reinforced in highly interactive online communication, through a social learning process.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a cross-sectional online survey to validate our proposed research model on excessive use of mobile instant messaging (MIM). 368 valid responses are obtained from active MIM users in China.

Findings

The results suggest that highly interactive MIM creates a technology-based social structure that facilitates the social learning process of excessive technology use. The influence of perceived interactivity of MIM on excessive MIM use is mediated by a series of contextualized social learning factors. Furthermore, the influences of perceived interactivity on social learning factors are moderated by MIM use experience.

Originality/value

The authors contribute to literature in related fields by highlighting the crucial role of social learning in facilitating excessive technology use. The authors contribute to the social structure and social learning model by contextualizing it into the context of excessive MIM use. Design guidelines are provided with a purpose to inhibit excessive use of MIM.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

Chuang Wang and Jun Zhang contribute equally to this work as co-first authors. This work is supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71601080, 71871095, 71801205, 72171217), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. WK2040000031).

Citation

Wang, C., Zhang, J. and Lee, M.K.O. (2022), "Time flies when chatting online: a social structure and social learning model to understand excessive use of mobile instant messaging", Information Technology & People, Vol. 35 No. 7, pp. 2167-2192. https://doi.org/10.1108/ITP-09-2020-0624

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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