Information exchange and information disclosure in social networking web sites

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating effect of trust on the relationship between the type of information exchange (IE) and information disclosure (ID) on social networking web sites (SNWs). Design/methodology/approach Constructs were developed for type of IE and trust. To understand the mediating role of trust a mediation analysis was conducted. To test for mediation effects, the four step procedure of partial mediation analysis was used. Findings There was found to be a partial mediating effect of trust on the relationship between the type of IE and ID on SNWs. Practical implications Since the basis of formation of the communities is similarities, when there is trust amongst the community members they would not post false profiles but real profiles and the extent of ID would be higher. Originality/value In most of the studies it is suggested that the type of exchange and trust is dependent upon information disclosure, as against the study in which we found that it is the type of exchange and the trust which lead to increased ID.