TY - JOUR
T1 - The dark side of mobile apps
T2 - when and how technical security matters for in-app purchases?
AU - Liu, Yulong (David)
AU - Chung, Henry F.L.
AU - Zhang, Zuopeng (Justin)
AU - Wu, Mian
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.
PY - 2023/12/1
Y1 - 2023/12/1
N2 - Purpose: This research aims to explore the dark side of mobile applications by investigating the role of apps' technicality and app security in the mechanism of user satisfaction, app intention and customers' continuance tendency to make in-app purchases. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on attitude-behavior-context (ABC) theory, the study proposed a conceptual framework and examined the framework using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach based on data collected from app users from New Zealand. Findings: The results reveal the correlation between user satisfaction and in-app purchase with a mediator of app continuance intention (ACI). In particular, the results show that app technicality (AT) has a positive correlation with user satisfaction as an antecedent. App security and hedonic value are positively correlated with user satisfaction. Originality/value: The research has three critical research implications. First, this research advances the understanding of the dark side of mobile apps by showing how app security influences customers' in-app purchases. Secondly, this study reveals and offers empirical evidence for the mechanism between app security and user satisfaction. Finally, the study provides empirical evidence of AT as a distal antecedent for in-app purchases.
AB - Purpose: This research aims to explore the dark side of mobile applications by investigating the role of apps' technicality and app security in the mechanism of user satisfaction, app intention and customers' continuance tendency to make in-app purchases. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on attitude-behavior-context (ABC) theory, the study proposed a conceptual framework and examined the framework using a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach based on data collected from app users from New Zealand. Findings: The results reveal the correlation between user satisfaction and in-app purchase with a mediator of app continuance intention (ACI). In particular, the results show that app technicality (AT) has a positive correlation with user satisfaction as an antecedent. App security and hedonic value are positively correlated with user satisfaction. Originality/value: The research has three critical research implications. First, this research advances the understanding of the dark side of mobile apps by showing how app security influences customers' in-app purchases. Secondly, this study reveals and offers empirical evidence for the mechanism between app security and user satisfaction. Finally, the study provides empirical evidence of AT as a distal antecedent for in-app purchases.
KW - App security
KW - Consumer satisfaction
KW - In-app purchases
KW - Mobile apps
KW - Social media marketing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85160736968&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/APJML-10-2022-0875
DO - 10.1108/APJML-10-2022-0875
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85160736968
SN - 1355-5855
VL - 35
SP - 2965
EP - 2982
JO - Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics
JF - Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics
IS - 12
ER -