Impact of Information Transparency and Content Credibility on Trust in Digital News Platforms: The Mediating Role of User Engagement

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between Chinese digital news platform trust and content credibility and information transparency with user engagement as a mediating variable and digital literacy as a moderating variable. The analysis is done using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) based on the data obtained after surveying 300 Chinese digital news consumers. According to the findings of the research, users have more confidence in news information that exhibits credibility and transparency characteristics. The credibility and transparency can be effective in the establishment of trust based on the level of user engagement since the digital literacy level improves their impact on the creation of trust. The research reinforces the theories of trust with digital journalism through not only offering a theoretical contribution but also valuable suggestions to the developers of platforms as well as the teaching and regulatory organizations that strive to produce credible digital news platforms. It is suggested to conduct future research in the environment of cultural and algorithm-based news.