The Effects of Relationship Tie on Perceived Credibility of Location Check-In Information on Facebook

• In Event: Social Ties, Social Networks, and Social Media

Abstract

Despite a trend of location check-ins as a means of mobile communication, little attention has been devoted to the value of location check-ins as marketing potential. Furthermore, little is known about how mobile users process and assess location information shared by friends on Facebook. Undergirded by persuasion knowledge and dual processing models, a self-instructed online survey with 255 undergraduate students found that friendship tie strength was positively correlated with students’ attitudes toward and perceived credibility of the location information shared by their friends. However, this relationship was true of those who reported a high level of mobile phone competence rather than those with low mobile phone competence. Prior experience with location sharing on Facebook also showed the positive relationship of student evaluations on the location information. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed.

Authors

• Hyang-Sook Kim, Towson University

• Mun-Young Chung, Pennsylvania State U