Abstract
Social networking sites (SNSs) are now ubiquitous communities for constant online interpersonal interactions that trigger symmetric or asymmetric effects on our everyday life. Recent studies advocate in favor of the significant role that SNSs have in promoting well-being and, more importantly, in disseminating reliable information during a global crisis, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the growing importance of SNSs to the global framework, the main purpose of this study is to empirically assess the link between the use of symmetric social networks such as Facebook, or asymmetric social networks, like Instagram, and the level of satisfaction, employing the methodology of structural equation modeling. The results of the research validate the hypothesis that SNS activities increase the level of satisfaction, and therefore, that there is a direct link between the number of posts and comments and the level of satisfaction. Furthermore, based on the reversible and significant link between the level of satisfaction and the importance attributed to SNSs, the main conclusion of the study is that the higher the importance of the SNS, the greater the level of dissatisfaction experienced by users. Also, public activities on social networks positively affect social network satisfaction, while private activities have a direct negative relationship with the importance of social networks.
Highlights
Economies around the world are being challenged by massive asymmetric shocks generated by the COVID-19 outbreak, even though its symmetric character is well recognized in the literature in the field [1]
For the second analysis type, SmartPLS [38] was considered. This approach employs partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and has become a quasi-standard method used in marketing and management research for analyses of the cause-effect relationships between latent constructs [39]
PLS-SEM was suitable for the present research because the authors evaluated the relationships among several latent variables; this method combines the advantages of path analysis, factor analysis, and multiple regression analysis, and at the same time, helps researchers to examine relationships among variables in terms of explained variation
Summary
Economies around the world are being challenged by massive asymmetric shocks generated by the COVID-19 outbreak, even though its symmetric character is well recognized in the literature in the field [1]. The responses of various countries have been aligned with a multitude of information disseminated by institutions and governments, using both traditional methods of communication, as well as the new, revolutionary channel of social networks. Previous articles in this area have recognized the powerful role social media plays in sharing and obtaining information, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic [2]. Social networking sites (SNSs) have become extremely popular, during critical global situations and more broadly, due to their general communication features that allow both online interpersonal interactions to occur, as well as providing the opportunity to engage in conversations with people who share the same interests. SNSs have expanded from computer sites to smart-phone applications, Symmetry 2020, 12, 1656; doi:10.3390/sym12101656 www.mdpi.com/journal/symmetry
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