An Exploratory Study on the Influence of Anonymity, Personality, and Social Factors on Participation in Online College Communities: A TRA-based PLS-SEM Approach

Abstract

Online communities based on social media have become extensions of university life, where students interact, seek information, engage in academic discourse, and build social relationships. In these spaces, anonymity, personality traits, and social factors influence the type of information students share and consume. Guided by the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), this study examined how perceived anonymity, neuroticism, extraversion, and fear of missing out (FoMO) affect the behavioral intention of 212 students to participate in online college communities. Using Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the analysis revealed that FoMO does not have a positive effect on participation intention. However, perceived anonymity, neuroticism, and extraversion were found to positively influence students’ attitudes toward participation, thereby affecting their intention to engage in anonymous college communities. The study recommends further investigation into all Big Five personality traits, exploration of specific anonymous platforms such as subreddits or Facebook pages, and a deeper analysis of the relationship between FoMO and anonymity. Understanding these factors can help shape academic policies that leverage social media platforms as alternative spaces for academic discourse.