With the advancement of smart environments and technology, consumer consumption patterns are changing, and a new shopping market is emerging, particularly under the influence of mobile and social media platforms (SNS). Consumers are now able to purcha...
With the advancement of smart environments and technology, consumer consumption patterns are changing, and a new shopping market is emerging, particularly under the influence of mobile and social media platforms (SNS). Consumers are now able to purchase products without directly visiting shopping malls through YouTube and influencers, leading to the rise of "Like Commerce." Due to this shift in content consumption, consumers are transitioning from linear to non-linear consumption, and short-form content, which is brief and convenient, is gaining attention. Short-form content refers to videos ranging from 15 seconds to about 10 minutes and can be consumed easily anytime and anywhere.
Current research on short-form content is being conducted in various fields, especially in the beauty industry. However, there is a relative lack of research on how the attributes of beauty short-form content affect consumers’ continuous behavioral intentions regarding beauty products.
Thus, this study aims to classify the attributes of beauty content and explore how these attributes influence consumers' behavioral intentions toward beauty short-form content. Furthermore, it examines whether information trustworthiness plays a mediating role in this relationship.
To achieve this, an online survey was conducted with 585 consumers who had watched beauty short-form videos, regardless of their location, without any restrictions on general characteristics. After eliminating insincere responses, 580 valid responses were used for analysis. The survey was conducted over a period of 31 days, from May 1 to May 31, 2024. SPSS Ver. 29.0 was used for the empirical analysis of hypotheses, employing statistical methods such as frequency analysis, exploratory factor analysis, calculation of Cronbach's α coefficients, and analysis of beauty short-form content, information trustworthiness, and behavioral intentions. Additionally, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Scheffe tests were conducted. Correlation analysis was used to examine relationships between variables, while regression analysis and a three-step mediation regression analysis were performed to investigate the mediating effect of information trustworthiness. The findings of this analysis are as follows:
First, the attributes of beauty short-form content were found to partially have a positive (+) effect on information trustworthiness. Specifically, the attributes of playfulness and expertise positively influenced information trustworthiness, while ease of use did not.
Second, information trustworthiness positively (+) affected behavioral intentions. Information trustworthiness positively influenced both recommendation intentions and purchase intentions.
Third, the attributes of beauty short-form content were found to partially have a positive (+) effect on behavioral intentions. The attributes of playfulness, expertise, and ease of use positively influenced recommendation intentions.
Fourth, information trustworthiness was found to partially mediate the relationship between beauty short-form content attributes (expertise, ease of use, playfulness) and behavioral intentions (recommendation intentions, purchase intentions).
Based on these results, the following conclusions can be drawn:
First, the study’s results emphasize that expertise and playfulness, among the attributes of beauty short-form content, have a significant impact on information trustworthiness. This suggests that when consumers experience enjoyment and curiosity through content that offers sufficient knowledge and expertise, their trust in the information increases. Therefore, beauty brands need to focus on emphasizing expertise and entertainment elements in content creation as a strategy to build consumer trust.
Second, information trustworthiness has a significant impact on behavioral intentions, particularly recommendation and purchase intentions. This has been further substantiated by previous studies focusing on trustworthiness as a variable. When consumers trust specific beauty content, they perceive the information as accurate and truthful, contributing to the formation of a positive perception of the product or service. Ultimately, trusted information encourages consumers to make confident purchasing decisions, which, in turn, can lead to them recommending the information to other consumers.
Third, among the attributes of beauty short-form content, playfulness and expertise positively influence behavioral intentions, particularly purchase and recommendation intentions. Enjoyable experiences strengthen the emotional connection between consumers and the product or service, contributing to the formation of a positive perception. High expertise in content builds consumer trust and reduces the time required for information search or decision-making, encouraging consumers to share more content. This process plays a crucial role when consumers make purchase decisions or recommend products based on the information provided. Therefore, beauty brands should focus on enhancing expertise and playfulness in their content, as this is essential for building consumer trust and encouraging positive consumer behavior.
Fourth, the partial mediating role of information trustworthiness in the relationship between beauty short-form content attributes and behavioral intentions highlights the fact that beauty products directly impact the skin and appearance, prompting consumers to be highly cautious in evaluating product information. Therefore, beauty content must prioritize providing trustworthy information, which is essential for inducing positive consumer behavior.
The results of this study focus on deriving practical strategic implications for the production and utilization of beauty short-form content. By analyzing the impact of various attributes on consumers' purchasing decisions, the study aims to provide insights needed for effective beauty short-form content production and marketing strategies. This, in turn, will enhance interaction with consumers and suggest directions for increasing competitiveness in the market. The findings are expected to contribute to the future development of beauty content and a deeper understanding of consumer behavior.