Can social media make us more trusting?

Abstract

The usage of social networking sites requires continuous trusting actions through the sharing of personal information. According to social cognitive theory, such behavior and resulting experiences should have an impact on the beliefs that led to the behavior. In this study, the authors explore how usage of social networking sites impacts the disposition to trust. A model of how this process takes place is developed. The results of a survey suggest that increasing usage of social networking sites increases disposition to trust, mediated by optimism, innovativeness, and trust in the social networking site. Implications of these findings are discussed.