IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/joreco/v87y2025ics0969698925001687.html

Understanding user acceptance and engagement in the Metaverse: A Dual experimental approach to advertising strategy

Author

Listed:
  • Kim, Hoik
  • Kim, Han-Min

Abstract

As interest in the metaverse continues to decline, many platforms are struggling to maintain user engagement. In response, this study investigates how tailored advertising messages and platform format affect user responses in metaverse environments. Study 1 tested user reactions to three advertising appeals—cost, functional, and content benefits—revealing gender and age-based differences. Male users preferred cost-focused ads, while female users responded more to content-based appeals. Users in their 30s and 40s were more responsive overall, especially to functional value messages. Study 2 applied the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) to compare user perceptions between two-dimensional and three-dimensional platforms. While perceived usefulness and attitude influenced behavioral intention in both formats, enjoyment played a significantly stronger role in 3D environments. Hypotheses related to ease of use were not supported, likely due to the digital fluency of the university student sample. These findings contribute to the literature by identifying user-specific advertising responses and emphasizing enjoyment as a key driver in immersive environments. The results offer practical insights for companies aiming to enhance metaverse engagement through strategic message design and platform selection.

Suggested Citation

  • Kim, Hoik & Kim, Han-Min, 2025. "Understanding user acceptance and engagement in the Metaverse: A Dual experimental approach to advertising strategy," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:87:y:2025:i:c:s0969698925001687
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jretconser.2025.104389
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969698925001687
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.jretconser.2025.104389?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bleier, Alexander & Eisenbeiss, Maik, 2015. "The Importance of Trust for Personalized Online Advertising," Journal of Retailing, Elsevier, vol. 91(3), pages 390-409.
    2. Giang Barrera, Kevin & Shah, Denish, 2023. "Marketing in the Metaverse: Conceptual understanding, framework, and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 155(PA).
    3. Viswanath Venkatesh, 2000. "Determinants of Perceived Ease of Use: Integrating Control, Intrinsic Motivation, and Emotion into the Technology Acceptance Model," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 11(4), pages 342-365, December.
    4. Buchan, Nancy R. & Croson, Rachel T.A. & Solnick, Sara, 2008. "Trust and gender: An examination of behavior and beliefs in the Investment Game," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 68(3-4), pages 466-476, December.
    5. Park, Hyejune & Lim, Rachel Esther, 2023. "Fashion and the metaverse: Clarifying the domain and establishing a research agenda," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Gilles Laurent & Pierre Chandon & Brian Wansink, 2000. "A Benefit Congruency Framework of Sales Promotion Effectiveness," Post-Print hal-00458440, HAL.
    7. Da Tao & Wenkai Li & Mingfu Qin & Miaoting Cheng, 2022. "Understanding Students’ Acceptance and Usage Behaviors of Online Learning in Mandatory Contexts: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Study during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, June.
    8. Viswanath Venkatesh & Fred D. Davis, 2000. "A Theoretical Extension of the Technology Acceptance Model: Four Longitudinal Field Studies," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 46(2), pages 186-204, February.
    9. Zhang, Haowei & Lv, Yang & Zhang, Justin Zuopeng & Hollebeek, Linda D. & Behl, Abhishek & Urbonavicius, Sigitas, 2025. "Exploring purchase intention in metaverse retailing: Insights from an automotive platform," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    10. Latino, Maria Elena & De Lorenzi, Maria Chiara & Corallo, Angelo & Petruzzelli, Antonio Messeni, 2024. "The impact of metaverse for business model innovation: A review, novel insights and research directions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    11. Gaofeng Wang & Changhoon Shin, 2022. "Influencing Factors of Usage Intention of Metaverse Education Application Platform: Empirical Evidence Based on PPM and TAM Models," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-21, December.
    12. Fred D. Davis & Richard P. Bagozzi & Paul R. Warshaw, 1989. "User Acceptance of Computer Technology: A Comparison of Two Theoretical Models," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 35(8), pages 982-1003, August.
    13. LAURENT, Gilles & CHANDON, Pierre & WANSINK, Brian, 2000. "A benefit congruency framework of sales promotion effectiveness," HEC Research Papers Series 698, HEC Paris.
    14. Said Salloum & Amina Al Marzouqi & Khaled Younis Alderbashi & Fanar Shwedeh & Ahmad Aburayya & Mohammed Rasol Al Saidat & Rana Saeed Al-Maroof, 2023. "Sustainability Model for the Continuous Intention to Use Metaverse Technology in Higher Education: A Case Study from Oman," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, March.
    15. Ghali, Zohra & Rather, Raouf Ahmad & Khan, Imran, 2024. "Investigating metaverse marketing-enabled consumers’ social presence, attachment, engagement and (re)visit intentions," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pillai, Rajasshrie & Sivathanu, Brijesh & Rana, Nripendra P., 2025. "Unveiling virtual interactive marketplaces: Shopping motivations in the Metaverse through the lens of uses and gratifications theory," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    2. D. Veena Parboteeah & Joseph S. Valacich & John D. Wells, 2009. "The Influence of Website Characteristics on a Consumer's Urge to Buy Impulsively," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(1), pages 60-78, March.
    3. Mäntymäki, Matti & Salo, Jari, 2013. "Purchasing behavior in social virtual worlds: An examination of Habbo Hotel," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 282-290.
    4. repec:zna:indecs:v:19:y:2021:i:4:p:420-436 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Nistor, Cristian, 2013. "A conceptual model for the use of social media in companies," MPRA Paper 44224, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Kawsar Ahmad & Arifuzzaman Arifuzzaman & Abdullah Al Mamun & Junayed Md Khaled Bin Oalid, 2021. "Impact of consumer’s security, benefits and usefulness towards cashless transaction within Malaysian university student," International Journal of Research in Business and Social Science (2147-4478), Center for the Strategic Studies in Business and Finance, vol. 10(2), pages 238-250, March.
    7. Sarv Devaraj & Ming Fan & Rajiv Kohli, 2002. "Antecedents of B2C Channel Satisfaction and Preference: Validating e-Commerce Metrics," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 13(3), pages 316-333, September.
    8. Soni, Sigma & Arora, Parvinder & Kasilingam, Dharun & Jain, Varsha, 2025. "Digital daydreams: Exploring consumer motivations for engaging with the metaverse," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    9. Al-Qeisi, Kholoud & Dennis, Charles & Alamanos, Eleftherios & Jayawardhena, Chanaka, 2014. "Website design quality and usage behavior: Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(11), pages 2282-2290.
    10. Oghuma, Apollos Patricks & Chang, Younghoon & Libaque-Saenz, Christian Fernando & Park, Myeong-Cheol & Rho, Jae Jeung, 2015. "Benefit-confirmation model for post-adoption behavior of mobile instant messaging applications: A comparative analysis of KakaoTalk and Joyn in Korea," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(8), pages 658-677.
    11. Shafiqul Islam & Mohammad Fakhrul Islam & Noor-E- Zannat, 2023. "Behavioral Intention to Use Online for Shopping in Bangladesh: A Technology Acceptance Model Analysis," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(3), pages 21582440231, September.
    12. Netsanet Haile & Jörn Altmann, 2016. "Structural analysis of value creation in software service platforms," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 26(2), pages 129-142, May.
    13. McLean, Graeme & Osei-Frimpong, Kofi & Al-Nabhani, Khalid & Marriott, Hannah, 2020. "Examining consumer attitudes towards retailers' m-commerce mobile applications – An initial adoption vs. continuous use perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 139-157.
    14. Garaus, Marion & Wolfsteiner, Elisabeth & Wagner, Udo, 2016. "Shoppers' acceptance and perceptions of electronic shelf labels," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(9), pages 3687-3692.
    15. Ivonne Angelica Castiblanco Jimenez & Laura Cristina Cepeda García & Maria Grazia Violante & Federica Marcolin & Enrico Vezzetti, 2020. "Commonly Used External TAM Variables in e-Learning, Agriculture and Virtual Reality Applications," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, December.
    16. Juan F. Tavera Mesías & Juan C. S�nchez Giraldo & Bernardo Ballesteros D�az, 2011. "Aceptación del E-Commerce en Colombia: un estudio para la ciudad de Medellín," Revista Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Universidad Militar Nueva Granada.
    17. Zhiqiang Yuan & Jing Liu & Xi Deng & Tianzi Ding & Tommy Tanu Wijaya, 2023. "Facilitating Conditions as the Biggest Factor Influencing Elementary School Teachers’ Usage Behavior of Dynamic Mathematics Software in China," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-18, March.
    18. Dickinger, Astrid & Kleijnen, Mirella, 2008. "Coupons going wireless: Determinants of consumer intentions to redeem mobile coupons," Journal of Interactive Marketing, Elsevier, vol. 22(3), pages 23-39.
    19. Salvador Angosto & Jerónimo García-Fernández & Moisés Grimaldi-Puyana, 2023. "A systematic review of intention to use fitness apps (2020–2023)," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-11, December.
    20. Yadgar Taha M. Hamakhan, 2020. "The effect of individual factors on user behaviour and the moderating role of trust: an empirical investigation of consumers’ acceptance of electronic banking in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 6(1), pages 1-29, December.
    21. Junic Kim, 2018. "Platform Adoption Factors in the Internet Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-12, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:joreco:v:87:y:2025:i:c:s0969698925001687. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-retailing-and-consumer-services .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.