The role of perceived risk in the behavioral intention to use and accept algorithm-based news aggregators

Abstract: The purpose of this research was to examine whether the opportunities or the risks are most significant for consumers when they are using algorithm-based news aggregators, this was accomplished by using an expanded Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 model (UTAUT2). In addition to examining the significance of the original UTAUT2 parameters, we sought to reveal if our additional parameter - perceived risk - was significant for the use and acceptance of news aggregators. We collected empirical data using an online survey, this resulted in 117 usable responses from people who currently use news aggregators. We conducted a multiple regression analysis with the collected data as well as two reliability tests. The findings of the multiple regression analysis indicated that habit had the most significant influence on the behavioral intention to use and accept algorithm-based news aggregators, followed by effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, and performance expectancy. Further, we found that our additional category perceived risk did not show a significant influence on the behavioral intention. The data of our sample further showed an indication of unawareness concerning the risks related to algorithm-based news aggregators. Our findings have the opportunity to expand the existing literature as well as interest in the subject of news aggregators from a consumer perspective.