Smartphone-based social networking sites and intention to quit: self-regulatory perspective

ABSTRACT Social networking site (SNS) providers and information system (IS) researchers are becoming increasingly interested in the factors that cause individuals to quit SNS. This study integrates the psychological and neurocognitive perspectives to examine the effects of poor sleep quality on the intention to quit. We utilise stress–strain–outcome, guilt, and ego depletion theories to argue that the excessive use of smartphone-based SNSs at night decreases sleep quality. Poor sleep quality increases the failure of self-control on SNS use and guilt, thereby increasing the intention to quit. We tested the hypothesised model by using a sample (N = 701) of Chinese students, which generally support our hypotheses.