Gender, age and income differences in internet usage among employees in organizations

Analysis of user trends in digital health communities using big data mining

Camoni, the largest digital health community in Israel, involves thousands of patients in the decision-making process concerning their illness and treatment. This approach reflects the recent global shift towards digital tools that combine professional information with social networking capabilities to enable problem-solving, emotional support, and knowledge sharing. Digital health communities serve as an invaluable resource for individuals seeking to learn more about their health, connect with others with shared experiences, and receive encouragement. Our research investigates user trends in digital health communities using the Camoni platform as a case study. To this end, we compile a comprehensive database of 12 years of site activity and conduct a large-scale analysis to identify and assess significant trends in user behavior. We observe several significant trends concerning different genders engagement and note a narrowing of gaps between men and women users' participation and publication volume. Furthermore, we find that younger users have become increasingly active on the platform over time. We also uncover unique gender-specific behavior patterns that we attempt to characterize and explain. Our findings suggest that the rise of digital health communities has accelerated in recent years, reflecting the public's growing preference to take a more active role in their medical care.

The user experience of violinists playing with a novel ergonomic chinrest: An evaluation on motivation, usage behaviour, usability and acceptance

BACKGROUND

This study focuses on the user experience of a novel developed ergonomic chinrest (EC), customised to accommodate the individual violinist's anthropometry and playing style. The EC was recently tested for biomechanical effect, but the violin player's motivation, usage behaviour, usability and acceptability may be equally important.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the user experience of violinists who used the novel EC with a low shoulder rest for two weeks. Through that experience, we wanted to learn about the potential user barriers and facilitators related to their motivation, usage behaviour, usability, and acceptability, when trying a new product.

METHODS

Thirty-eight professional violinists participated and evaluated motivation, user behaviour, usability and acceptance using a 5-point Likert scale and open-ended questions.

RESULTS

Participants showed high motivation hoping to improve posture, reduce muscle tension and enhance performance. Usage behaviour was also high, while product appearance, adjustment time, and sound impact were negatively evaluated. However, 37% planned to continue to use EC after the study.

CONCLUSION

Participants showed high motivation and usage behaviour but faced challenges with product appearance, adjustment time, and sound impact compared to their usual chinrest. Incorporating user feedback and addressing design and usability challenges can enhance the user experience.

Predictors of Turkish individuals' online shopping adoption: An empirical study on regional difference

E-commerce is a result of the most recent technological advancements which has liberated trade on a global scale and further facilitated the communication of information. The purpose of this study is to research the differences in the usage of e-commerce among individuals living in regions of different levels of development in Türkiye and to determine the relationship between demographic, economic and personal characteristics and the e-commerce usage of individuals. In this study, the micro data set obtained from the Household Information Technologies Use Survey was used. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors related to the e-commerce usage of individuals. As a result of the study, it was detected that the variables; education level, level of income, age, gender, occupation, social media use, engagement in information search about products and services online, engagement in selling products or services online, use of online banking, and e-government use are related to e-commerce usage. The study found that the variables affecting e-commerce usage differ by region. It is necessary to expand the internet by improving the information and communication technology infrastructure in low development regions to facilitate the development the use of e-commerce in these regions. Therefore, when looking for information on e-commerce, relevant regional initiatives should be considered. In developing countries, expanding e-commerce to low development areas requires more than just facilitating access to the internet.

Smart Organizations as a Source of Competitiveness and Sustainable Development in the Age of Industry 4.0: Integration of Micro and Macro Perspective

The Industry 4.0 Revolution that is taking place nowadays means that organizations face not only new opportunities, but also challenges related to the identification of their role in creating a modern smart world. The economies of many countries are under the significant and growing influence of various types of organizations, not only strong international business corporations, but also, more and more often, smaller but intelligent ones called smart organizations IR 4.0. Due to their unique characteristics, intelligent organizations are better able than others to cope with technological breakthroughs, social, and cultural problems as well as to compete effectively and develop in an environmentally sustainable way. With their growing potential, they are strengthening the economies of their countries of origin and daily operation. Their growing role is also visible in the processes of shaping competitiveness and achieving the sustainable development objectives of the European Union (EU). The countries that are able to organize an environment on their territory that is conducive to the smart organization’s development are clear examples not only of a high market competitiveness, but also of a dynamically growing commitment to the effective implementation of the challenges associated with the 17 objectives of sustainable development of the contemporary EU, according to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This allows for a conclusion that the identification of the key factors for a smart organization’s development makes it possible to monitor and provide targeted support for the development not only of these organizations, but also for the competitiveness and sustainability of individual countries, both from the EU and other regions of the world. In light of the above, the aim of this article is therefore to propose an effective tool to monitor the use of power of smart organizations in the processes of building the competitiveness and sustainable development of countries, with particular reference to the EU. To achieve this objective, we constructed a synthetic power of smart organizations index (PSOI) based on previously collected data from EUROSTAT. This tool allows for the integration of micro (organization level) and macro (country level) economic aspects into a single construct. Based on the analysis of its results, countries wishing to actively engage in the development of their own and the EU’s smartness and sustainability can be offered several more or less intense navigation paths to market success, based on the development of smart organizations.

The buffer effect of physical activity: Why does parental marital satisfaction affect adolescents' problematic Internet use

•

Marital satisfaction negatively predicted adolescents' problematic internet use (PIU).

•

Depression mediated the relationship between marital satisfaction and PIU.

•

The mediating effect was significant for individuals with low physical activity.

•

The mediating effect was not significant for individuals with high physical activity.

Introduction

To explore the moderating effect of physical activity and the mediating effect of depression on the relationship between marital satisfaction and adolescents’ problematic internet use (PIU).

Methods

This study adopted a sample of 288 adolescents and their parents, and measured adolescents’ depression, PIU, physical activity, and parents’ marital satisfaction.

Results

These results showed that parental marital satisfaction negatively predicted adolescents' PIU. Adolescents’ depression played a mediating role between parental marital satisfaction and adolescents’ PIU. Further mediated moderation effect analysis showed that the interaction between marital satisfaction and adolescents' physical activity affected the PIU through adolescents’ depression. Specifically, for individuals with lower physical activity, the marital satisfaction affected the PIU through adolescents' depression. However, for the group with higher physical activity, physical activity weakened the effects of marital satisfaction on adolescents' depression, and the mediating effect of depression did not reach a significant level.

Conclusion

These results are of theoretical and practical significance in understanding and intervening to address adolescents' PIU.

Measuring brand-related content in social media: a socialization theory perspective

Purpose

Building on consumer socialization theory, the purpose of this paper is to examine antecedents and consequences of generating and sharing brand-related content on social media in a restaurant context.

Design/methodology/approach

A scale development process was undertaken to develop the scale for brand-related user-generated content (BRUGC). Then the authors tested the antecedents and consequences of BRUGC using 375 responses obtained through a mall-intercept survey. The hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling with AMOS.

Findings

Study findings revealed that age, time on Facebook, number of Facebook friends, Facebook usage intensity, and need for self-enhancement were key antecedents of both the generation and sharing of BRUGC. The results also indicated that gender, race and need for self-affirmation were not significantly related to generating and sharing BRUGC. Both generating and sharing BRUGC were positively associated with attitude and intentions toward the restaurants.

Originality/value

This study is the first to develop a BRUGC scale through a rigorous scale development process. It thus contributes to consumer socialization theory literature in considering social media as a socialization agent. The findings provide valuable insights for both academicians and social media managers and aid in enhancing BRUGC.

Understanding social media users’ unfollow intentions: take WeChat subscriptions as an example

Purpose

An increasing number of users join and become immersed in WeChat official accounts, but many users quit using these services as well. Nevertheless, most of the previous studies mainly focussed on the usage behavior. The purpose of this paper is to fill the gap by examining factors affecting users’ unfollow intentions for WeChat subscriptions in a Chinese context.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural equation modeling is used in our study. A field survey with 260 WeChat users is conducted to test the research model and hypotheses.

Findings

The results show the following interesting key findings: first, the effect of actual cost on users’ unfollow intentions is larger than the effect of opportunity cost; second, users’ unfollow intentions will decrease with the increase of users’ perceptions of information usefulness; third, the results of the control variables showed that only landing frequency has a negative effect on users’ unfollow intentions; and fourth, users’ demographic differences are also examined in regard to how they may affect users’ unfollow intentions.

Originality/value

First, this paper studies factors influencing users’ unfollow intentions for WeChat subscriptions from a social exchange theory perspective; the authors considered both extraneous factors and users’ internal perception factors potentially affecting users’ unfollow intentions, which has rarely been researched. Furthermore, the authors examined significant differences among users’ demographic characteristics in affecting users’ unfollow intentions. The results of the study provide a more comprehensive understanding of the influencing factors of users’ unfollow intentions.

Policymakers’ perspective about e-Government success using AHP approach

Purpose

The e-Government has a potential to entrench Good Governance in Pakistan. However, this technology could not be successfully developed and implemented in public sector – despite of efforts made by the Government. Consequently, public sector is suffering from bad Governance, which ultimately affects the Governance as well as e-Government ranking of Pakistan in the globe – as indicated by the UN surveys and other relevant indices. This paper aims to propose a novel techno-policy framework for its successful implementation by considering all relevant critical success factors (CSFs) and determining their relative importance from policymakers’ perspective. Further, it aims to excerpt the root causes of e-Government failure in Pakistan and to derive valuable policy implications for its success in the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

The techno-policy framework was developed by identifying all the CSFs and assimilating them by deploying the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach. The survey instrument was designed to compare all the CSFs on the basis of AHP scale and to collect the socio-demographic data. An interview based survey of all the concerned stakeholders was conducted to know their perspective about the proposed framework and to determine their relative importance about all the CSFs. Finally, the empirical estimations were performed by using the Expert-Choice decision-making system.

Findings

The analysis of empirical results depicts that among CSFs’ main-categories –Governanceis the most important; whereas, theManagementandResourcesare relatively more important; however, theSocio-Economicsis relatively less important for the e-Government success in Pakistan. Further, among CSFs’ sub-categories –Political, Managerial, Legislative, Non-Technical, andTechnicalare relatively more important thanSocial, Economic, andScopefor the e-Government success in Pakistan. Lastly, among all CSFs –Political Stability, Managerial Strategy, ICT Policies, Funding, Portal Technology, Education & Skills, Cost, andAutonomyare the most important factors of their respective categories, and which can positively affect the e-Government success in Pakistan.

Research limitations/implications

This study fills the gap caused by paucity of literature in terms of empirical based techno-policy research in the e-Government domain – from implementation perspective. Further, it serves as a prototype for the prospective researchers, who aim to conduct policy oriented research toward e-Government development in their respective regions.

Practical implications

The key findings, policy implications & recommendations of this study are quite valuable and of practical significance for the government, policymakers, practitioners, researchers and all the concerned stakeholders and beneficiaries. Further, this study paves a way forward toward entrenching the Good Governance in Pakistan.

Originality/value

This study contributes in several ways. It highlights the significance of e-Government as a technology for attaining Good Governance in Pakistan. Further, it presents consolidated view of all the concerned stakeholders toward the successful implementation of all e-Government programs in Pakistan. Finally, it provides a guideline for the government agencies to formulate their e-Government policy and strategy as per the needs of all stakeholders in Pakistan.

Purposes of Internet use and problematic Internet use among Turkish high school students

INTRODUCTION

After the emergence of the Internet, the sudden increase in its use soon attracted attention to this phenomenon. Studies have shown that there is a relationship between problematic Internet use (PIU) and the purposes of Internet use.

METHODS

The aims of this study are to examine the purposes of Internet use among Turkish high school students according to their gender, frequency of Internet use (FIU), grade point average (GPA) and family income (F-income), and to investigate whether all these variables predict PIU. The participants in the study were 375 high school students (185 girls and 190 boys), and verbal consent was obtained from the subjects before application. The participants' ages ranged between 14 and 18 (Mean = 15.6, SD = 1.26). One-way analysis of variance was used to identify the purposes of Internet use in terms of demographic variables. Also, hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to explore whether demographic variables and purposes of Internet use affected PIU.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Finally, the results demonstrate that male gender, high FIU, low GPA, and high levels of F-income correlate significantly with PIU. Also, the social, leisure and virtual-emotional purposes of Internet use, besides demographic variables, were significantly correlated with PIU.