Download or swipe left: The role of complexity, future-oriented emotions and feature overload

Abstract

With the intense competition in the mobile applications (apps) market, it is imperative for app providers to understand how visual stimuli from their apps can create a positive first impression and enhance the app download rates. In the present study, the mechanism through which visual complexity influences mobile app download intention is examined. Using a combination of convenience and snowball sampling, 218 participants were recruited to take part in a singlegroup post-test only quasi-experimental design. The findings of the study showed that visual complexity influences mobile app download intentions through the mediating role of two futureoriented emotions (i.e. hope and anticipated regret). Additionally, the study showed that the indirect effect of visual complexity on download intentions was moderated by feature overload with the importance of visual complexity significantly reducing as perceptions of feature overload increases. The proposed model explained 46% variance in the intentions to download a mobile app. The findings not only provide practical insights for mobile app developers and publishers but also theoretical insights on consumer decision making in the pre-use context of mobile apps.