Exploring the Process of Technology Socialization (TS) in the Family: ICT Adoption for Middle-aged Parents with the Influence of Adult Children
研究中国家庭中成年子女如何影响中年父母采纳信息通信技术，通过访谈识别出创造共享环境、协商家庭ICT身份和产生数字分化三种机制，对ICT企业和政策制定者促进中年群体数字技能提升有参考价值。
Abstract Family is an important socialization environment for adopting information and communication technologies (ICTs). However, while existing information systems research focuses on individual factors that influence digital inequity, it tends to ignore the influence of relational/collective factors on individuals’ ICT adoption. Drawing on technology adoption, socialization, and social identity theories, this study focuses on the process of technology socialization of ICT adoption for middle-aged parents with the influence of their adult children in Chinese families. Through in-depth interviews with thematic analysis, we identify three mechanisms in the family, including creating a family shared environment, negotiating a family ICT identity and interplay, and generating digital differentiation. These findings contribute to a technology socialization framework, addressing how individuals can become digitally savvy with the influence of the socialization agents in the family. The findings have implications for ICT firms and policy makers to promote the family shared environment as a vehicle for achieving social wellbeing and digital upskilling of middle-aged adults.