Seniors’ usage of mobile social network sites: Applying theories of innovation diffusion and uses and gratifications

Seniors are substantial users of mobile devices to communicate and participate in mobile social network sites (MSNS) to interact, but there has been little theoretically based understanding of what motivates seniors’ use of MSNS for tourism. To bridge the gap, this study applied the theory of the diffusion of innovations as well as the theory of uses and gratifications to explain why seniors use MSNS. Key explanatory variables included site attachment and authentic experience. Results indicate that the effect of innovation diffusion on authentic experience was greater than on site attachment. The effect of uses and gratifications was also greater on authentic experience than on site attachment. In addition, this study examined the moderating role between purchase and non-purchase groups. The effects of uses and gratifications on site attachment and authentic experience were stronger in the purchase group than in the nonpurchase group, while on the other hand, the effects of innovation diffusion on site attachment and authentic experience were stronger in the non-purchase group than in the purchase group The findings of this study suggest theoretical and practical implications for senior MSNS usage in the tourism domain.