The Internet has expanded rapidly and shifted from being solely an information access tool to being an interaction tool used by individuals to discover and share content, opinions, and information. To develop information connections, individuals are using a variety of technologies to access content and join virtual communities on various social networking sites. Of interest to researchers and organizations is the individuals' perception of social networking sites using the identified dimensions of ease-of-use, usefulness, information quality, feeling, and usage intention. In this Web-based study, 226 participants from a professional discussion group provided information regarding their perceptions of social networking sites and access tool usage. The differences in these perceptions based upon the various access methods and various social networking tools are analyzed and reported. The results from simple main effect tests showed that differences exist in both access methods and social networking tool usage. The usage patterns based upon the access methods can have an impact on the usage behavior of social network sites. High-usage groups have the highest mean values for the perception dimension of ease-of-use for both access method and social networking sites. This suggests that organizations should accommodate and energize mobile users and design changes to their social networking sites to facilitate interaction and information sharing.

This study develops and tests an integrated model of e-shopping Web site usage. The proposed model uses previously identified dimensions from the Technology Acceptance Model and introduces the dimensions of perceived information risk and perceived site trust. LISREL results of survey data show that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness of the e-shopping Web sites have a significant positive direct effect; whereas, perceived information risk has a significant negative direct effect on e-shopping Web site usage. Perceived enjoyment, perceived ease of use, and perceived site trust show a significant indirect effect on e-shopping Web site usage through perceived usefulness. Managerial implications and research directions are discussed. Kee-Sook Lim is a Lecturer

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to develop a multiple‐indicator‐multiple‐cause (MIMIC) model that assesses the relative influence of various e‐shopping web site design attributes on e‐shopping web site usage intention.Design/methodology/approachData from a survey of 261 students are used to test the research model. Factor analysis is performed to ascertain distinct constructs. LISREL analysis of the survey data is then used to test the proposed MIMIC model.FindingsThe results showed the effect of the dimensions of content quality (CQ), transaction quality (TQ), playfulness, and security on e‐shopping web site usage. Security is identified as the most important factor in e‐shopping web site success.Research limitations/implicationsThe theoretical contribution is the systematic evaluation of the relative influence of the four web site design factors on web site usage intention. The degree of influence of specific factors that can motivate continuous use is identified.Practical implicationsThis paper provides a guide for designers to make their web site relevant for organizations who desire a quality presence on the web. Additionally, the relative influence of the factors can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of web sites providing guidance for modifications and improvements.Originality/valueThis paper suggests that e‐shopping web sites should not include extensive entertaining components at the expense of responsiveness and useful contents. The information provided has to be informative, accurate, current, and relevant. The functionality must facilitate the completion of e‐purchases and ensure security.