The effects of generational differences on use continuance of Twitter: an investigation of digital natives and digital immigrants

This study links generational literature and information systems (IS) research by investigating the effect of generational differences on the usage of Twitter. Using theories of technology acceptance and IS continuance, we propose a research model to explore whether digital natives (DN) and digital immigrants (DI) perceive technology differently, and whether any such differences affect Twitter use-continuance behaviour. Structural equation modelling analysis of survey data from 385 users reveals that DN and DI perceive Twitter differently, providing partial support for the propositions of the model. The findings emphasise the role of generation in explaining users' continuance behaviour, with DN experiencing more social pressure to use Twitter, and finding it easier to use – but less useful – than do DI. This study has important implications for research in that it contributes to the debate on generational differences and to the IS continuance literature.