Hierarchal Formation of Trust on Peer-to-Peer Lodging Platforms

Based on the concept of trust from a hierarchical approach and with the support of processing fluency theory, the current study investigates customer trust, and its relationships with flow experience, satisfaction, and repatronage intention on peer-to-peer (P2P) lodging platforms. Customer flow experience on the Airbnb platform is verified to be an antecedent of economy-based trust. The hierarchical organization of trust is also proved applicable in the context of sharing economy websites (economy-based trust → information-based trust → identification-based trust). The results provide marketers and hosts of P2P lodging platforms effective strategies to assist customers form trust in sequential steps and in multiple perspectives. The present study is a pioneer which in depth examined trust formation in the emerging sharing economy platforms.

Poisoning the information well?

This study examines the impact of fake news discourse on perceptions of news media credibility. If participants are told they have been exposed to fake news, does this lead them to trust information institutions less, including the news media? Study 1 (n = 188) found that news media credibility decreased when participants were told they saw fake news, while news credibility did not change when participants were told they saw real news. Study 2 (n = 400) found that those who saw fake news – and were told they saw a fake news post – decreased their trust in the news media while those who saw fake news and were not debriefed did not change their perceptions of the news media. This shows that the social impact of fake news is not limited to its direct consequences of misinforming individuals, but also includes the potentially adverse effects of discussing fake news.

Mitigating infodemics: The relationship between news exposure and trust and belief in COVID-19 fake news and social media spreading

Introduction Misinformation surrounding COVID-19 poses a global public health problem that adversely affects governments’ abilities to mitigate the disease and causes accidental deaths and self-harm due to false beliefs about the virus, prevention measures, vaccines and cures. We aim to examine the relationship between exposure to and trust in COVID-19 news (from Television, social media, interpersonal communication) and information sources (healthcare experts, government, clerics) and belief in COVID-19 myths and false information, as well as critical verification practices before posting on social media. Methods We use a cross-sectional researcher-administered phone survey of adults living in Lebanon between March 27 and April 23, 2020. Results The sample included 56.1% men and 43.9% women, 37.9% with a university degree, 63.0% older than 30, and 7% with media literacy training. Those who trust COVID-19 news from social media [95%CI:(1.05–1.52)] and interpersonal communication [95%CI:(1.25–1.82)], and those who trust information from clerics [95%CI:(1.25–1.82)] were more likely to believe in COVID-19 myths and false information. University graduates [95%CI:(0.25–0.51)] and those who trust information from government [95%CI:(0.65–0.89] were less likely to believe in myths and false information. Those who believe in COVID-19 myths and false information [95%CI:(0.25–0.70)] were less likely to engage in critical social media posting practices. Only those who underwent media literacy training [95%CI:(1.24–6.55)] were more likely to engage in critical social media posting practices. Conclusion Higher education and trust in information from government contributed to decreasing belief in COVID-19 myths and false information. Trust in news from social media, interpersonal communication and clerics contributed to increasing belief in COVID-19 myths and false information, which in turn contributed to less critical social media posting practices, thereby exacerbated the infodemic. Media literacy training contributed to increasing critical social media posting practices, thereby played a role in mitigating the infodemic.

Mahindra First Choice

Mahindra Firstchoice illustrates the process of ecosystem orchestration in the context of the second-hand car market in India. It describes how Mahindra Firstchoice mapped the ecosystem in relation to six key parties—consumers who were buyers, consumers who were sellers, car manufacturers, independent used-car dealers, independent car service workshops, and banks. It then identified the bottlenecks and ‘pain points’ that afflicted the six parties. The used-car market did not function properly because of lack of trust, information, and transparency and Mahindra Firstchoice worked with the parties to identify solutions to the market failures. These involved, amongst other things, the creation of third-party car inspection services, the establishment of a multi-brand car-dealer franchise, a warranty system, a bluebook of second-hand prices and transactions, and a car diagnosis and repair system.

Trusting information from friends: Adults expect it but preschoolers do not

It often seems easier to trust information from friends than strangers. Do preschoolers and adults expect such bias towards friends? Presented with a main character, her best friend, and a stranger, participants judged who was worthy of trust from the main character’s perspective (third-person) as well as their own (first-person). Adults (n = 128, 55 female) expected the main character to trust her friend even if she had been previously inaccurate, while basing their own judgments on accuracy. In contrast, four- and five-year-olds (n = 128, 62 female) thought that the main character would be like themselves and care only about accuracy. Thus, while adults incorporate both friendship and accuracy into trust judgments, preschoolers fail to see that friendship matters.