Greek Internet Research Articles

‘Localised’ and ‘unlocated’ contemporary legends and their function on the Greek internet


 
 
 
 Contemporary legends tend to function as a way of sustaining prevailing manners and dominant social norms. Thus, they are situated near the time and place of the narrative action. By connecting to a given known place – that is, by being localised – they promote a sense of plausibility.
 Nevertheless, amongst the legends found on Greek internet, few link the narrated event to a specific location. Most of the known legends are transmitted with no spatial and temporal reference at all. Having lost the connection to specific places, they become, therefore, ‘unlocated’. In fact, most of the acknowledged contemporary legends circulating on the Greek web are usually depicted as terrifying incidents that happen to random people at unspecified times and locations.
 What does the loss of locality entail for the function of the genre if it was one of the key elements that turned modern legends into possible and plausible stories? Tales? How do they seem to function online? Do localised stories still exist? And if they do, does locality enhance the function they already have or does it eventually lose its impact?
 
 
 

A Framework for Identifying the Factors Affecting the Use of E-Government Services

E-government is an extremely interesting research field with numerous research (academic) and practical implications. Under this context, the present study proceeds in developing and testing an original conceptual framework that explores the factors influencing the use of e-government services. The proposed conceptual framework was tested using a newly developed structured questionnaire in a sample of 282 Greek internet users. Hypothesis testing was conducted using the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique. Results underline, among others, the significance of (1) perceived compatibility, (2) perceived operational benefits, (3) trust in e-government services, and (4) perceived information in enhancing the intention of citizens to use e-government services.

News Article Consumption Habits of Greek Internet Users

The concept of different news consumption habits during a day has been well known for many decades in the broadcasting industry. News websites are also experiencing a drop in late afternoon traffic and a sharp drop in the evening hours. Furthermore, during the weekend, website traffic numbers appeared to be significantly different than the numbers during the weekdays. That resulted in the adoption of the concept of dayparting in the case of the internet. The existence of internet dayparts can have a significant impact on news websites since they can significantly determine their success. It is quite natural to assume that media organizations have adopted their publishing patterns to best satisfy the audience’s consumption patterns. This paper investigates those consumption patterns by conducting an extensive web survey among university students and particularly journalism and communication students that are expected to exhibit high consumption rates. The parameters being investigated include time, weekdays and weekends, and content categories. The study identified distinct periods that exhibit specific consumption patterns. The results appear to be to some degree in agreement with findings of previous studies that reported on publishing patterns, but significant differences have also been identified. Those results can provide valuable information for the implementation of successful content publishing strategies from the media organizations.

A semiotic approach to Greek internet memes during the Covid-19 pandemic

Since late 2019, Covid-19 has spread worldwide, and many people are obliged to stay at home for public health reasons. Confined to their homes, people worldwide flooded the internet by posting photos and images online with funny captions, attracting an abundance of comments, and proving that humor is a vital need even in the most challenging times. This paper focuses on original Greek internet memes (not those translated into Greek) through selected examples. The study aims to investigate fifteen representations about Covid-19 and the Greek experience of lockdown, focused on quarantine lifestyle issues in Greek social media groups (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter). Memes are explored as humorous and composite visual communication works that highlight how Covid-19 and quarantine have affected our everyday lives.

An Empirical Investigation of Internet Users' Perceptions towards National and International e-Shops

Nowadays, the broad Internet utilization and the advancement of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have greatly changed the way goods and services are bought and sold. As a consequence, even more online users prefer not only to shop online, but also purchase abroad taking advantage of Internet's limitless feature. Thus, technology's success has stimulated the process of cross-border e-shopping, allowing fast, less costly communication, as well as access to a wider variety of goods and services. The purpose of this consumer-oriented approach paper is to examine the perceptions of Greek Internet users concerning e-shops. In specific, it aims to reveal if there are differences on users' perceptions regarding Greek versus international e-shops, as even more individuals visit non-domestic online stores for their e-purchases. Hence, it provides tangible results to an under-explored area of online shopping and shed light on the difficulty of understanding important aspects of e-shopping behavior; presenting vital implications to both academia and practitioners.

An examination of the critical factors affecting consumer acceptance of online banking

PurposeThe recent advances in the technology of electronic banking have helped develop new ways of handling banking affairs, especially through online banking. Moreover, the rapid development of the internet has stimulated the banking sector towards encouraging customers to make their transactions online. The purpose of this paper is to introduce an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) model as a tool for examining the factors that have a significant impact on customers' online banking acceptance.Design/methodology/approachThe typical TAM constructs were enhanced with the variables of perceived risk and quality of the internet connection. The proposed conceptual framework of the study (extended TAM), was tested on a sample of Greek internet users. Data were analysed using the “structural equation modelling” technique.FindingsResults provide overall support for the extended TAM model and confirm its robustness in predicting customers' intention of adoption of internet banking. More specifically, results underlined the important impact of perceived usefulness, security risk and performance risk on the intention to use internet banking. On the contrary, the impact of perceived ease of use and quality of the internet connection seemed to have only an indirect effect on internet banking adoption.Practical implicationsThe paper makes an analytical effort in order to point out areas that banking organisations should emphasize in order to successfully implement online banking and, therefore, harvest its potential benefits.Originality/valueThe paper proposes an enhanced conceptual framework (extended TAM) that examines vital issues concerning online banking acceptance, thus providing valuable outcomes for decision makers and academics. To the best of the researchers' knowledge, such an extension of the TAM model has never been examined in the relevant literature. Moreover, the results of the study may be generalised in other developed countries whose financial sector faces significant challenges (e.g. Spain, Italy, Portugal, Ireland, etc.).

P01-39 - Playing violent games, internet café visits and degree of daily schedule disruption predict internet addiction in a sample of greek young internet café users

AimTo estimate the percentage and risk factors of Internet addiction (IA) at Greek Internet cafés.MethodsWe used a questionnaire including questions on demographics, Internet use duration, Internet applications and sites visited, degree of Internet use influence on daily schedule and social relations, psychosocial characteristics of users and Young's IA Test (48 items overall). Our randomly selected sample included Internet café users in Athens and other big Greek cities. The sample size was 686 people (74%/26% M/F) and 12%, 70% and 18% were between 7–14, 15–25 and 26–45 years old respectively.ResultsCronbach's alpha ranged from 0.79 to 0.90 for all 6 sections of our questionnaire. The prevalence of IA among Internet café visitors was 20.8% (16.0% men, 4.8% women). IA was significantly associated to Internet use duration per day, Internet Café visits number per week, number of hours playing at Internet cafés per visit, duration playing violent games (e.g. Counter-Strike, Quake, Assassin), duration visiting Facebook and MySpace, and degree of Internet use influence on daily schedule, social relations and psychological attitudes (p < 0.01). Binary logistic regression showed that significant predictive factors of IA were the length of time playing violent games [ORCounter-Strike = 23.6 (95% CI 1.2 − 40.1); ORAssassin = 10.9 (95% CI 1.5 − 43.2)], visiting Facebook [OR = 41.9 (95% CI 19.7 − 87.5)], and deterioration of social relations (p = 0.009).ConclusionIA is frequent in Internet cafés, possibly due to an online gaming addiction affecting multiple aspects of a person's life.

Factors affecting Greek internet users' intentions to adopt online shopping: the perspective of an extended technology acceptance model

This study develops and validates a model to predict internet users’ intentions to buy online, based on an extended technology acceptance model (TAM). We proposed that in addition to technology’s ease-of-use and usefulness, compatibility with technology, and perceived risk are considered as determinants of customers’ attitude and intentions toward on-line shopping. The data was collected from 931 internet users. Results show that: 1 customers’ attitude is determined by compatibility with technology and perception of its usefulness and easiness, and negatively determined by technology’s risk perception 2 customer’s perception of usefulness is mainly predicted by compatibility with technology, followed by perceived risk and easiness of technology 3 customers’ intention to buy online is positively determined by attitude towards online shopping and beliefs of its usefulness and negatively determined by perceived risk of technology. Finally, several implications of the findings are discussed and directions for further research are provided.

SafeLine: reporting illegal internet content

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to present the operational framework of SafeLine (www.safeline.gr), the Greek Internet Hotline. SafeLine's mission is to eliminate illegal internet content with emphasis on images of child sexual abuse and to combat against users who encroach on children's rights through illegal internet activities like grooming or cyberbullying.Design/methodology/approachSafeLine serves as a contact point for those individuals that wish to report illegal internet content or activities that they encounter while surfing the internet. Upon receipt of a report verified as illegal, SafeLine forwards it to the Greek police, to other governmental authorities, or to the hotline of another country.FindingsAn analysis of the reports received by SafeLine indicate a clear shift on the type of reported content. A large number of recent reports concern financial fraud and personal data violation, activity related to the newly emerged social networking sites.Practical implicationsThe resulting aim of this paper is to inform internet users about their ability to report illegal internet material.Social implicationsInteresting topics such as internet addiction, illegal activities in the emerging social networking systems and legislation regarding cyber crimes will also be analyzed while trying to give an overall view about internet risks for children. Finally, useful tips for the public are presented as a means of promoting a safer internet for children and adults.Originality/valueThe paper reports on the latest trends in illegal internet content based upon an analysis of the reports received by SafeLine. A clear shift to illegal activity in social networking sites clearly emerges.

The role of perceived risk on Greek internet users' purchasing intention: an extended TAM approach

This study develops and validates an extended model, to predict and explain consumers' intentions to transact with an internet-based Business-to-Consumer (B2C) e-commerce system, based on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). In the augmented TAM of this study, additionally to ease of use and usefulness, perceived risk is also proposed to be a direct antecedent of intention to transact. The model was validated using data collected from 195 internet users and analysed using multiple regressions. The results provided substantial support for most of the proposed hypotheses and showed the significance of the extended constructs.

Gender differences in digital music distribution methods

This study examines gender differences among Greek Internet users in using digital music distribution methods. First, a Web-based questionnaire was developed and placed on most popular Greek forums. Then, 300 Greek Internet users stated their opinions regarding digital music and the following downloading methods: 1) Http downloading, 2) P2P downloading, 3) Torrent downloading, and 4) Combined iTunes method. The results revealed that P2P programs are the first choice for downloading mp3. The responders were satisfied with the P2P’s easiness of use, the variety of songs and the no need to pay. However, they worried about P2P’s safety. Gender differences were identified in several areas. Music industry managers could consider these findings in their strategies to reach the consumers. Advertising companies could use the results to target differently male or female consumers.

Users' perceptions on privacy and their intention to transact online: a study on Greek internet users

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine whether the internet users' privacy concerns (concerns for information privacy, CFIP) and perceived privacy control (PPC) affect their willingness to use internet web places in order to transact. A theoretical model is introduced that describes how users' CFIP and PPC may affect their willingness to transact through web places when personal information must be disclosed in order to accomplish the transaction.Design/methodology/approachThe research model is empirically tested using data collected with a survey that include items for each of the constructs of the model. The survey is administrated to 190 internet users and resulted in 142 usable responses through questionnaires. In order to test the hypotheses, multidimensional regression analysis is used.FindingsThe findings indicate that both users' CFIP and users' PPC (some dimensions of them) have direct impact not only to users' trust toward the web site as expected but also to the willingness to transact through the internet when personal information needs to be disclosed.Research limitations/implicationsIn this paper, an introductory analysis is conducted in order to preliminary test the validity and credibility of the research model. In this first approach, the multidimensional regression analysis is used. Currently, the paper deals with the use of structural equation modeling in order to better test the research model. The research could be conducted also online in order to investigate users' behavior under real circumstances.Practical implicationsThe more users know about their personal information the less willing they are to make purchases through internet. Moreover, if web places improve their mechanisms and procedures that correct better the inaccuracies and the errors in the users' stored personal data then users' willingness to retrieve information from web sites improves too.Originality/valueExisting studies constitute the basic theoretical framework but until now there is not a model that connects both users' CFIP and users' PPC with the willingness to transact through the internet and with users' trust upon the web sites.

Customer Retention in the Greek Internet Market

No accessInternational Journal of e-Business ManagementOther Journal Article01 May 2009Customer Retention in the Greek Internet Market SectionsAboutPDF/EPUBExport CitationsAdd to FavouriteAdd to FavouriteCreate a New ListNameCancelCreate ToolsTrack CitationsCreate Clip ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedIn COPY LINK Abstract The aim of this article is to identify the influence of service quality and perceived price on customer retention in the Greek Internet market. Service quality is measured using the SERVQUAL model. Two proxies are used to measure customer loyalty, repurchase intention and positive word of mouth. However, it should be noted that customers stated repurchase intention does not always ensure their actual repurchase behaviour. Data were collected through a survey and 140 Internet users were personally interviewed. The findings showed that there are relationships between service quality, perceived price and customers' intention to repurchase and engage in positive word of mouth. Full Text DOI Previous article Next article RelatedDetails View PUBLICATION DETAILSDate of Publication:May 2009Journal:International Journal of e-Business ManagementISSN:1835-5412Volume:3Issue:1Page Range:[35]-48First Page:35Last Page:48Source:International Journal of e-Business Management, Vol. 3, No. 1, May 2009: [35]-48Date Last Modified:13 June 2019 16:18Date Last Revised:21 September 2010SubjectInternet service providersCustomer loyaltyCustomer relations--Management METRICS Downloaded 0 times Copyright© RMIT Publishing, 2009Download PDFLoading ...