Ready to be a Silver Surfer? A Meta-analysis on the Relationship Between Chronological Age and Technology Acceptance

This meta-analysis addresses two major issues of our time: the proliferation of technologies and the aging of society. That is, we investigate how chronological age relates to technology acceptance. Pertinent primary studies reported inconsistent results. To integrate this literature, the current meta-analysis includes 144 studies covering different types of technologies and technology users in a random effects model. In line with our theorizing, we found that age was overall negatively related to perceived ease of use (ρ = −.25), perceived usefulness (ρ = −.09), and intention to use a technology (ρ = −.07). These effects were stable over time and thus no mere cohort effects. A meta-analytic mediation model revealed that the links from age to (a) perceived usefulness and (b) intention to use were both fully mediated through perceived ease of use. Furthermore, results were moderated by type of technology, such that age-effects were only evident for technologies that do not address the prevailing needs of older adults. We conclude that age is only related to specific technology perceptions (perceived ease of use) and only for specific technologies. Thus, we challenge prevailing age stereotypes and call for an age-sensitive design of specific technologies.