The benefits and dangers of enjoyment with social networking websites

Abstract

Information Systems enjoyment has been identified as a desirable phenomenon, because it can drive various aspects of system use. In this study, we argue that it can also be a key ingredient in the formation of adverse outcomes, such as technology-related addictions, through the positive reinforcement it generates. We rely on several theoretical mechanisms and, consistent with previous studies, suggest that enjoyment can lead to presumably positive outcomes, such as high engagement. Nevertheless, it can also facilitate the development of a strong habit and reinforce it until it becomes a ‘bad habit’, that can help forming a strong pathological and maladaptive psychological dependency on the use of the IT artifact (i.e., technology addiction). We test and validate this dual effect of enjoyment, with a data set of 194 social networking website users analyzed with SEM techniques. The potential duality of MIS constructs and other implications for research and practice are discussed.

Keywords:

• enjoyment
• habit
• high engagement
• technology addiction
• social networking websites
• Facebook

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ofir Turel

About the authors

Ofir Turel is a Professor of Information Systems and Decision Sciences at the College of Business and Economics, California State University, Fullerton. He holds a B.Sc. in Industrial Engineering, an M.B.A. in Technology Management, and a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems. Before joining academia, he held senior positions in the information technology and telecommunications industries. His research interests include a broad range of behavioral and managerial issues in various information systems contexts. His work has received several national and international awards, and has been presented in many conferences. He has published over 30 articles in journals such as MIS Quarterly, Journal of Management Information Systems, European Journal of Information Systems, Communications of the ACM, Information & Management, Journal of Information Systems, Behavior & Information Technology, Telecommunications Policy, Group Decision and Negotiation, and Communications in Statistics.

Alexander Serenko

Alexander Serenko is an Associate Professor of Management Information Systems in the Faculty of Business Administration at Lakehead University, Canada. Dr. Serenko holds a Ph.D. in Management Information Systems from McMaster University. His research interests pertain to technology addiction, knowledge management, and scientometrics. Alexander has published over 50 articles in refereed journals, including MIS Quarterly, Information & Management, Communications of the ACM,Journal of Informetrics, and Journal of Knowledge Management. He has also won awards at several Canadian, American and international conferences. In 2007, Dr. Serenko received the Lakehead Contribution to Research Award, which recognizes him as one of the University's leading researchers.