Consumers Perspective of Online Behavioral Advertising (OBA) : The Integration of Persuasion Knowledge Model (PKM) and Protection Motivation Theory (PMT)

Abstract

This study examines how consumer knowledge about online behavioral advertising (OBA) tactics affects ad avoidance behavior in display ads and video ads on Instagram social media platforms. The study combines two theoretical approaches, the Persuasion Knowledge Model (PKM) and the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). The online survey examined how consumers cope with OBA based on their persuasion knowledge, cognitive appraisal, and cognitive processing variables. Structural equation modeling was used to analyze the data collected from 211 consumers aged 18-34 years who are active Instagram users. The results reveal that from the cognitive appraisal variables, the perceived risks were indirectly associated with ad avoidance throughout privacy concerns without being related to persuasion knowledge, perceived benefits were significantly associated with persuasion knowledge. Still, it was not associated with privacy concerns, persuasion knowledge was indirectly associated with ad avoidance throughout self-efficacy, and privacy concerns partially mediated such associations with ad avoidance. From the cognitive processing variables, reactance was significantly associated with ad avoidance without being related to persuasion knowledge, and perceived personalization was associated with persuasion knowledge and significantly related to ad avoidance.

Keywords: Online behavioral advertising, Online privacy concerns, Ad avoidance, Persuasion knowledge, Protection motivation, Digital marketing, Instagram