Moderating effects of app type on the intention of continued use of mobile apps among college students

Abstract

With the increasing popularity of mobile apps, research on their adoption and acceptance is also on the rise. However, an important yet understudied area is the continued use of initial adoption. Additionally, although there are a variety of mobile apps, most previous research either examines one type of mobile app or treats all types of mobile apps as one homogenous entity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the moderating effects of app type on the intention of continued use among the three most popular types of mobile app (social networking, game, and productivity apps). A survey (N = 790) with young adults was conducted based on the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT2). The structural equation modelling results demonstrated the moderating effects of app type on the factors in UTAUT2 on the intention of continued use. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.