Social Payments in a Digital World: A Study of P2P Cash App Use and Acceptance

Digital transformation has become pervasive and a modern societal norm. One such transformation, the use of mobile payments, was foundational in facilitating the proliferation of e-commerce. While there is a wealth of literature on mobile payments, little has been done on a more recent, related phenomenon, peer-to-peer cash applications (P2P cash apps) whereby end-users make direct payments to peers instantly, often through an application on their device. The direct payment can cause pause and concern for many users due to the instantaneous nature, lack of perceived security, and the lack of ability to cancel the transaction, thereby leading to decreased adoption. This study seeks to understand the most salient factors related to the adoption of P2P cash apps, addressing the research gap identified in this study in this specific area. We develop a model of P2P cash app adoption based on seminal IS research. Findings indicate that factors affecting adoption include perceived risk and trust, information and service quality, ease of use, and the influence of others.