Acceptance of online social networks as technology-based education tools among higher institution students: Structural equation modeling approach

Educational institutions are adopting Online Social Networks (OSNs) to support learning activities in university campuses. However, implementing a new technology requires identifying and assessing the factors that influence users' acceptance of a new technology. Accordingly, this method enables the critical prediction of the success or failure of a new technology. This study aims to identify the factors that influence a student's acceptance of OSNs as a learning tool by developing a research model based on the identified factors and on the technology acceptance model. The proposed model was further validated by employing online survey data collected from 537 students of the University Malaysia Pahang. Thereafter, structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze the collected data. Findings provide significant implications and considerable value for higher education institutions in adopting improved strategies for implementing OSNs as a learning tool. (C) 2019 Sharif University of Technology. All rights reserved.