The impact of the density of individual social networks on WeChat usage in intimate relationships among Chinese youngsters

WeChat has become the most popular type of social media among youngsters in China. They use it for various reasons including communicating in intimate relationships. This study aims to investigate the impact of the density of individuals’ social networks on WeChat Usage in Intimate Relationships amo...

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Main Authors: Nie, Zhou, Li, Mingzhu, Waheed, Moniza, Kasimon, Diyana, Wan Abas, Wan Anita
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) 2023
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/110358/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/110358/1/110358.pdf
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author Nie, Zhou
Li, Mingzhu
Waheed, Moniza
Kasimon, Diyana
Wan Abas, Wan Anita
author_facet Nie, Zhou
Li, Mingzhu
Waheed, Moniza
Kasimon, Diyana
Wan Abas, Wan Anita
author_sort Nie, Zhou
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description WeChat has become the most popular type of social media among youngsters in China. They use it for various reasons including communicating in intimate relationships. This study aims to investigate the impact of the density of individuals’ social networks on WeChat Usage in Intimate Relationships among Chinese youngsters, guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). An online questionnaire was constructed and disseminated to respondents online. In total, 923 undergraduate students from Chinese universities completed the questionnaires. Utilizing Structural Equation Modelling, findings show that the density of individuals’ social networks has a limited impact on WeChat usage. On the other hand, TPB factors such as subjective norms and perceived control bring a substantial impact on WeChat usage, while attitude has a less significant impact. These results indicate that Chinese youngsters exhibit strong attributes of the collective culture. This study also suggests that future social media research should place more emphasis on cultural and social factors.
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spelling upm-1103582024-10-02T07:48:00Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/110358/ The impact of the density of individual social networks on WeChat usage in intimate relationships among Chinese youngsters Nie, Zhou Li, Mingzhu Waheed, Moniza Kasimon, Diyana Wan Abas, Wan Anita WeChat has become the most popular type of social media among youngsters in China. They use it for various reasons including communicating in intimate relationships. This study aims to investigate the impact of the density of individuals’ social networks on WeChat Usage in Intimate Relationships among Chinese youngsters, guided by the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). An online questionnaire was constructed and disseminated to respondents online. In total, 923 undergraduate students from Chinese universities completed the questionnaires. Utilizing Structural Equation Modelling, findings show that the density of individuals’ social networks has a limited impact on WeChat usage. On the other hand, TPB factors such as subjective norms and perceived control bring a substantial impact on WeChat usage, while attitude has a less significant impact. These results indicate that Chinese youngsters exhibit strong attributes of the collective culture. This study also suggests that future social media research should place more emphasis on cultural and social factors. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI) 2023-03 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/110358/1/110358.pdf Nie, Zhou and Li, Mingzhu and Waheed, Moniza and Kasimon, Diyana and Wan Abas, Wan Anita (2023) The impact of the density of individual social networks on WeChat usage in intimate relationships among Chinese youngsters. Journalism and Media, 4 (1). pp. 377-395. ISSN 2673-5172 https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5172/4/1/25 10.3390/journalmedia4010025
spellingShingle Nie, Zhou
Li, Mingzhu
Waheed, Moniza
Kasimon, Diyana
Wan Abas, Wan Anita
The impact of the density of individual social networks on WeChat usage in intimate relationships among Chinese youngsters
title The impact of the density of individual social networks on WeChat usage in intimate relationships among Chinese youngsters
title_full The impact of the density of individual social networks on WeChat usage in intimate relationships among Chinese youngsters
title_fullStr The impact of the density of individual social networks on WeChat usage in intimate relationships among Chinese youngsters
title_full_unstemmed The impact of the density of individual social networks on WeChat usage in intimate relationships among Chinese youngsters
title_short The impact of the density of individual social networks on WeChat usage in intimate relationships among Chinese youngsters
title_sort impact of the density of individual social networks on wechat usage in intimate relationships among chinese youngsters
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/110358/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/110358/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/110358/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/110358/1/110358.pdf