Understanding the Adoption and Usage Behaviors of Popular and Emerging Metaverse Platforms: A Study Based on the Extended Technology Acceptance Model

ABSTRACT By applying an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), we specifically examined how TAM-related factors affected two types of usage behaviors of current Metaverse platforms. The use intensity of the popular Metaverses and the adoption of the emerging Metaverses. The study recruited 222 participants through an online survey distributed via Amazon Mechanical Turk (Mturk). The results indicated that the driving forces to use the popular Metaverses were perceived usefulness (PU) and subjective norm (SN), while the adoption of the emerging Metaverses was significantly influenced by perceived enjoyment (PE) and external regulation (ER) of the Covid−19. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the factors that motivate individuals to engage with contemporary Metaverse platforms, shedding light on the theoretical frameworks of TAM, Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DOI), and Self-determination Theory (SDT). By exploring these dimensions, our study offers a fresh and distinctive perspective on this subject, paving the way for future research in the field.