Analyzing Decision-Making Factors for Using Social Media: The Role of Trust and Information Sharing

Abstract

Purpose: This study is aimed at explaining the factors that influence a person to decide to use TikTok in the Jabodetabek (Jakarta-Bogor-Depok-Tangerang-Bekasi) area. This study also uses the variables of self-efficacy, utilitarian value, hedonic value, information sharing, trust, and decision-making. Design/Method/Approach: Quantitative approaches and explanatory research are used in this study. Respondents were consumers who used the TikTok application in the Jabodetabek area to determine the number of samples. The present study uses non-probability sampling and convenience sampling techniques with 252 respondents. Data collection methods used questionnaires, and data were analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) method with the help of AMOS 24. Findings: The findings of this study indicate that self-efficacy and hedonic value positively affect trust, and trust positively affects information sharing and decision-making. Nevertheless, the results of this study also explain that self-efficacy does not affect information sharing. The utilitarian value does not significantly affect trust, and information sharing does not affect decision-making. Theoretical Implications: The study contributes to the existence literature on Social Media Use and Social Media Marketing especially about variables used in this study, wherein concludes that trust play an important role to use and activities of sharing information in social media. Practical Implications: Social media service providers should focus on the influence of information sharing and decision-making in the TikTok application, namely trust. One example is making efforts to improve consumer trust by protecting the personal information which consumers provide on social networking sites and developing the TikTok application as advertising for business. This study can be used as a reference for advertisers when choosing advertising media in the TikTok application because hedonic values influence trust in the TikTok application. Advertisers are advised to promote products by providing hedonic value, such as TikTok dance. Originality/Value: The use of the TikTok application is a trend that is currently popular. We tried to perform this research by using a dependent variable of decision-making that is not easy to find and is used in marketing studies. Research Limitations/Future Research: For further research it is recommended to modify the model using factors other than those used in this study, use similar research objects other than the TikTok application, with a broader scope of the study location.