Understanding social media users' information avoidance intention: a C-A-C perspective

Purpose Based on the C-A-C framework, this article examined users' information avoidance intention in social media platforms. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted data analysis using a mixed method of the SEM and fsQCA. Findings The results indicated that information overload, functional overload and social overload influence fatigue and dissatisfaction, both of which further determine users' information avoidance intention. The results of the fsQCA identified two paths that trigger users' information avoidance intention. Originality/value Extant studies have examined the information avoidance in the contexts of healthcare, academics and e-commerce, but have seldom explored the mechanism underlying users' information avoidance in social media. To fill this gap, this article will empirically investigate users' information avoidance in social media platforms based on the C-A-C framework.