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Current developments in the FinTech payment industry have shown a rapid revolution in Industry 4.0, and understanding the factors affecting individual acceptance of facial recognition payment (FRP) is crucial. Hence, this study aims to evaluate the benefits and risks of FRP system adoption in Malaysia.

The perceived risks and benefits framework is adopted as the foundation in this study to examine the various risks and benefits that users perceive, along with the trust factor, to study the relationships between these variables. Data were collected via an online questionnaire, and the hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Squares analysis on 277 responses.

The results revealed that perceived risk is a significant predictor of users' intention to use the FRP system. Privacy risk and financial risk significantly influence perceived risks, while security risk does not. Although convenience, perceived ease of use and perceived trust positively influence perceived benefits, perceived benefits do not significantly influence adoption intention. Moreover, perceived trust negatively affects perceived risks while positively affecting both perceived benefits and adoption intention. Additionally, personal innovativeness moderates the relationship between perceived risks and the intention to use the FRP system.

This study helps policymakers and service providers understand individuals’ concerns and expectations regarding FRP systems. It aids practitioners in developing strategies to build trust, address innovativeness differences and mitigate risks, serving as a roadmap for integrating these systems into Malaysia's financial landscape.

This study distinguishes itself from prior research by evaluating FRP system adoption in Malaysia through the lens of perceived risks and benefits framework. It also explores personal innovativeness as a moderator, examining its impact on the relationship between usage intention and perceived risks and benefits. Additionally, it highlights perceived trust as a crucial factor influencing individuals' intention to adopt FRPs.

This study aims to shed new light on the effect of gift packaging shape, specifically the distinction between horizontal and vertical orientations, on the face consciousness of both gift givers and recipients. The underlying mechanism of the main effect is examined, focusing on the perception of social status symbols. In addition, downstream outcome variables were included in the study to explore the effects of gift package shape on willingness to buy (WTB) and word-of-mouth (WOM) in the giver and receiver contexts, respectively. Furthermore, these effects were repeatedly verified in both China and the USA, revealing the significance of cultural differences. The study also investigated the moderating effects of an individual’s power state (low or high power) on the giver’s face consciousness.

Six studies were conducted to address the research objectives. Study 1 compared the gift givers’ face consciousness of a gift when presented with vertical package shapes versus horizontal. Subsequently, Study 2 investigated whether consumers’ perception of social status symbols mediates the effect of gift package shape on gift givers’ face consciousness. Study 3a expanded the conceptual model to include the downstream outcome variable of WTB in the context of gift-giving. Study 3b was validated with American participants, revealing the influence of cultural background differences on face consciousness. Study 4 introduced a gift-receiving context to investigate the chain-mediated effects of gift package shapes on consumer WOM. Lastly, Study 5 critically examined the boundary effect of personal power states on the interaction between the gift givers’ face consciousness and WTB.

The results indicate that gift givers and recipients attribute higher face consciousness to gifts with vertical package shapes compared to horizontal ones. In addition, consumers’ perception of gifts as status symbols was the underlying mechanism driving the impact of gift packaging shape on face consciousness. Furthermore, the face consciousness for gift packages of vertical shape was enhanced when people were in lower-power states as opposed to higher-power states, subsequently leading to an increase in the WTB.

The research is limited to an online virtual brand study; future field studies could be conducted to enhance the authenticity of the participants’ gift-giving experience and the overall external validity of the studies. In addition, gender-based stereotypes and the relationship between the giver and the receiver (transactional or intimate) may also influence the relationship between gift package shapes and face consciousness.

The practical implications of this research focus on three points. First, gift brand managers should strategically employ vertical package shapes to signal high-end attributes and evoke face consciousness among consumers, aligning with the psychology of both givers and recipients. Second, managers must consider consumers’ power states in gift-giving scenarios, tailoring packaging recommendations to the dynamics between givers and recipients to maximize market share. Last, cultural differences in face consciousness, particularly between Asian and Western cultures, necessitate that managers adapt packaging designs to respect and enhance the social status of both givers and recipients in culturally sensitive ways. These findings underscore the importance of understanding and integrating consumer psychology, power dynamics, and cultural nuances into gift packaging strategies to boost market share.

The research contributes to understanding the impact of gift packaging shape on the perception of face consciousness among both gift givers and recipients. It highlights the mediating role of social status symbols and extends its scope by examining downstream effects such as WTB and WOM. It explores individual power states as a moderating factor, revealing how personal dynamics influence perceptions of face-saving consciousness. Also, the cross-cultural validation of these effects in China and the USA underscores the importance of considering cultural differences.

Social media usage has been documented to affect the psychological well-being of its users. This study aims to examine how social media overload influences cognitive fatigue among individuals in Malaysia.

This study employed a comprehensive research framework based on the stressor-strain-outcome (SSO) model to examine how perceived overload affects social media cognitive fatigue through emotional exhaustion and anxiety. Survey data were gathered from 451 social media users in Malaysia, and data analysis was performed using PLS-SEM.

The findings revealed that information overload, communication overload and interruption overload are antecedents of emotional exhaustion. Communication overload, interruption overload and cognitive overload were identified as antecedents of anxiety, while emotional exhaustion and anxiety were confirmed as predictors of social media cognitive fatigue. However, pathway analysis indicated no relationship between emotional exhaustion and anxiety.

Our study contributes to the literature on media technology and media psychology by examining the psychological mechanisms (emotional exhaustion and anxiety). The findings offer implications for service providers, practitioners and social media users, as they facilitate measures and strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of social media while elevating psychological well-being.

Consumer behavior is evolving rapidly due to the increasing role of technology in daily life. Online food ordering has emerged as a key channel in this changing landscape. This paper investigates the relationships between online promotions, consumer skepticism, information sharing on social media and the intention to purchase food and beverages through online delivery services.

Measures were developed based on a review of existing literature. Data from 402 participants were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).

The study reveals that online promotions significantly impact consumers' sharing of restaurant posts. Additionally, consumer skepticism about online food sales affects both their sharing behavior and their intention to purchase online. Engagement in sharing restaurant posts online is a strong predictor of online food purchasing intentions.

The findings offer valuable insights for restaurant operators, policymakers and technology developers in the competitive online food delivery sector. They emphasize the importance of implementing innovative promotions and crafting appealing food presentations. These strategies can accelerate customer decision-making, attract new customers and contribute to market expansion and customer base sustainability.

This research provides significant insights for restaurant owners and contributes to the limited literature on online promotions, consumer skepticism and information sharing in the restaurant industry. It also lays the groundwork for future studies aimed at deepening understanding in this field.