Abstract
The widespread use of social media has promoted extensive academic research on this channel. The present study conducts a systematic analysis of extant research on social media use among young people in China. This systematic literature review aims to identify and bridge gaps in topics, theories, variables, and conceptual frameworks in studies of social media usage among young people in China. The study aims to develop a cause–effect framework that shows the causal relationships among research structures. The PRISMA method is used to review 20 articles drawn from the Scopus and Google Scholar databases. From the analysis, 10 major research topics, eight theories or models, and a complete framework of causal relations emerge. It is recommended that future research on social media should include a greater diversity of types of social media, investigate a wider range of research topics, and adopt different theories or models. Researchers should also implement a more complete and detailed systematic method for reviewing literature on social media research in China.
Highlights
As one of the most popular communication tools in contemporary society, social media is used around the world and has become an important part of individuals’ daily lives
The current review study has focused on research on social media use among young people in China over a relatively short period (2015– 2019), considering only empirical articles that adopted a quantitative approach and that were available in the Scopus or Google Scholar databases
The variables used in the articles were grouped into a cause– effect framework and divided into five types: exogenous, moderating, mediating, confounding/control, and endogenous variables
Summary
As one of the most popular communication tools in contemporary society, social media is used around the world and has become an important part of individuals’ daily lives. Social media comprises a set of internet applications based on Web 2.0 that allow users to create and exchange information (Kaplan & Haenlein, 2010). It is gradually changing traditional ways of life through its uses in communication and entertainment, and its influence is especially strong on younger people (Ainin et al, 2015; Kirschner & Karpinski, 2010; Sahharon et al, 2018; Vasalou et al, 2010). Social media is no longer limited to simple social communication and has penetrated into almost every aspect of social life, including business. A. Hossain & Kim, 2020)
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