The Role of Social Media in the Diffusion of E-Government and E-Commerce

Abstract

This study attempts to empirically examine the role of social media use on the diffusion of e-government and e-commerce. This study departs from previous studies that have investigated social media effects on e-government and e-commerce as silo phenomena without examining the mediating role of other national-level factors. Using data drawn from archival sources for 135 countries for 2016, the study, through a model built on the technology-organization-environment framework, examines the mediating role of other national-level factors by employing partial least squares structural equation modelling. The findings provide evidence that social media use significantly influences the development of e-government and the diffusion of e-commerce globally. However, the mediating role of the political and regulatory environment was found not to be influential. Some implications of the study for research and practice are provided.