Peer-mediated Social Signals Alter Risk Tolerance in Teenage Boys Depending on their Peers.

Introduction: During early adolescence, peer influences play a crucial role in shaping learning and decision preferences. When teens observe what their peers are doing, they can learn and change their behavior, especially when they are taking risks. Our study incorporated an economical behavioral task and computational modeling framework to examine whether and how early male adolescents' risk attitudes change when they see information about their peers' choices. Methods: We recruited 38 middle school male students aged 12-15 years. The experiment consisted of three sessions: The first and third sessions were designed to evaluate the risk attitude of the participants. In the second session, participants were asked to guess the choices made by their peers, and then, the computer gave them feedback on the correctness of their predictions. Each participant was randomly assigned to risk-taking or risk-averse peers. Results: Our results revealed that teenagers who predicted risk-averse peers exhibited significant declines in their risk attitudes during the last session. On the other hand, participants with risk-seeking peers exhibited a significantly higher level of risk attitudes after predicting their peers. The data showed that these peer-biased changes in risk attitudes are proportional to the gap between teens and their peers' risk perspectives. Results showed that their perspectives aligned closer after receiving the information, and approximately a third of the gap was eliminated. Conclusion: Here, by combining choice data and computational modeling, we demonstrate that risky behavior is contagious among male adolescents. According to our data, peer-biased risk contagion, a socially motivated and deliberate process, is associated with social distance in teens. There's no causal directionality here, but we could speculate that peer influence goes hand-in-hand with social integration as an adaptive process.

Peer influence on eating behaviour in early childhood: A scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: Peers can significantly influence eating behaviours in school-aged children and adolescents. Studies vary in methodology and terminology and report inconsistent age and sex differences. No review has collated evidence within early childhood. This review aims to explore what is currently known about peer influence and eating behaviours in young children and identify knowledge gaps regarding commonly assessed eating behaviours, peer definitions, peer influence assessment methods, and theoretical frameworks. METHODS: A search of electronic databases (Embase, ERIC, Medline, APA PsycInfo, Scopus) was conducted. The review included peer-reviewed, primary research that explored peer influence on eating behaviour in any group context, published between 1980 and 2023, available in English full-text. Participants were aged between two and seven years. Primary and secondary screening were conducted by two authors. Data extraction was conducted by one author with a second author duplicating 25%. RESULTS: Twenty-six of the 3961 unique identified studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies (76%) report peers to influence eating behaviours. Peer influence was a primary aim in 18 studies, of which 17 were experimental, and peer influence emerged as a finding in seven studies. All phenomena of interest varied widely. Eating behaviour concept definitions were inconsistent, with four studies assessing hypothetical eating behaviours. Peers varied by age, familiarity, and in-person versus remote exposures. Six theoretical frameworks were referenced, and eleven studies lacked theoretical underpinning. No studies measured peer influence directly or obtained children's perspectives. CONCLUSIONS: Peers may influence eating behaviours within early childhood. Peer familiarity and age potentially impact peer influence magnitude. Variations in study design and peer definitions make comparisons challenging. Future research should utilise observational designs to explore peer influence on child eating behaviours within naturalistic settings.

Indirect social influence and diffusion of innovations: An experimental approach.

A fundamental feature for understanding the diffusion of innovations through a social group is the manner in which we are influenced by our own social interactions. It is usually assumed that only direct interactions, those that form our social network, determine the dynamics of adopting innovations. Here, we test this assumption by experimentally and theoretically studying the role of direct and indirect influences in the adoption of innovations. We perform experiments specifically designed to capture the influence that an individual receives from their direct social ties as well as from those socially close to them, as a function of the separation they have in their social network. The results of 21 experimental sessions with more than 590 participants show that the rate of adoption of an innovation is significantly influenced not only by our nearest neighbors but also by the second and third levels of influences an adopter has. Using a mathematical model that accounts for both direct and indirect interactions in a network, we fit the experimental results and determine the way in which influences decay with social distance. The results indicate that the strength of peer pressure on an adopter coming from its second and third circles of influence is approximately two-third and one-third, respectively, relative to their closest neighbors. Our results strongly suggest that the adoption of an innovation is a complex process in which an individual feels significant pressure not only from their direct ties but also by those socially close to them.

Sources and processes of social influence on health-related choices: A systematic review based on a social-interdependent choice paradigm.

BACKGROUND: Most choices in healthcare are not made in social isolation. However, current econometric models treat patients' preferences as the sole determinants of their choices. Through the lens of sociology and medical sociology theories, this paper presents a systematic literature review of identifiable social influences on patients' choices, serving as a first step in developing a social-interdependent choice paradigm. METHODS: Following the PRISMA guideline and using nine databases, we identified the individual agents or groups involved in health-related choices, the functional content through which social relationships influence patients, and the choice constructs affected by these processes. From 9036 screened articles, we selected 208 to develop an analytical framework connecting social relationships with choice constructs. RESULTS: Social influences predominantly come from family, friends, specialized physicians, and general practitioners. We decomposed the functional content of social relationships into functions and contents. Dyadic interactions and expert knowledge were prominent functions, followed by social control. Prescriptive and informational contents were prevalent, followed by instrumental and emotional ones. Expert knowledge and social norms aligned with prescriptive and informational signals, while dyadic interactions provide emotional and instrumental signals. Reference points for social norms included friends, coworkers, and patients. Social relationships primarily impact which alternatives are evaluated, followed by alternative evaluation strategies and goal selection. Distinctions between medical domains and dimensions emerged, highlighting how the medical area conditions the social influence process. CONCLUSION: This systematic review presents a comprehensive framework that elucidates the social influence process in healthcare patient decision-making. By detailing the functional content of social relationships into functions and contents and linking these components to the elements of the choice process, we created a structured approach to understanding how social relationships impact patient choices. This will facilitate the systematic integration of social relationships into econometric models of patient choice.

On the spurious effect of intergroup friendship on outgroup attitudes in schools: The role of social influence and the positive impact of exposure to outgroup peers.

Promoting intergroup friendships in schools is regarded as a powerful strategy for improving outgroup attitudes. However, stochastic actor-oriented modelling (SAOM) studies have often revealed no association between intergroup friendship and outgroup attitudes. I investigated whether SAOM studies reported no effect of intergroup friendship on outgroup attitudes, what was responsible for this surprising finding and whether exposure to outgroup peers was positively related to outgroup attitudes. The meta-analysis of SAOM studies confirms no association between intergroup friendship and outgroup attitudes. Examining longitudinal social network data of 2700 German students, I found that a positive link between intergroup friendship and outgroup attitudes appeared only when I did not control for social influence. This indicates that intergroup friendship did not automatically improve outgroup attitudes. Instead, the development of outgroup attitudes among students depended on social influence and, thus, the quality of outgroup attitudes among their outgroup friends. Exposure to outgroup peers was, however, positively associated with outgroup attitudes. These findings reframe intergroup contact theory by suggesting that intergroup friendship is not essential for improving outgroup attitudes. Rather, social influence and exposure to outgroup peers could be key factors shaping outgroup attitudes.

Associations of close social connections with smoking and vaping: a population study in England.

INTRODUCTION: Studies consistently demonstrate smoking is a socially contagious behaviour, but less is known about the influence of social connections on vaping. This study examined associations between having close social connections who smoke or vape and relevant smoking and vaping outcomes. METHODS: This was a representative cross-sectional survey of adults (≥16y) in England. Participants (n=1,618) were asked how many people they discuss important matters with (i.e., close social connections) and how many of them smoke/vape. We tested associations between (i) smoking and (ii) vaping among close social connections and participants' own smoking and vaping status; harm perceptions of e-cigarettes (among current smokers); attempts and success in quitting smoking (among past-year smokers); and use of e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation aid (among past-year smokers who tried to quit). RESULTS: Adults with ≥1 close social connection who smoke were more likely than those with none to smoke themselves (32.8% vs. 9.4%; ORadj=7.23[95%CI 4.74-11.0]) and had an uncertain lower likelihood to quit (12.2% vs. 19.8%; ORadj=0.46[0.17-1.23]). Those with ≥1 close social connection who vape were more likely than those with none to vape themselves (29.6% vs. 6.3%; ORadj=5.16[3.15-8.43]) and to use e-cigarettes in their most recent attempt to quit (57.0% vs. 27.9%; ORadj=18.0[1.80-181]), and had an uncertain higher likelihood to perceive e-cigarettes as less harmful than cigarettes (30.8% vs. 12.2%; ORadj=2.37[0.82-6.90]). CONCLUSIONS: In England, we replicated well-established associations with smoking and found similar evidence for vaping. People were much more likely to vape and to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking if they had close social connections who vaped. IMPLICATIONS: The cross-sectional design means it is not clear whether smoking/vaping among close social connections influences people to smoke/vape themselves, or whether people who smoke/vape select to form close social connections with others who similarly smoke/vape. Further research is required to establish causality. If the associations we observed are causal, interventions that encourage smokers to switch to vaping may have positive spillover effects on social connections' perceptions of e-cigarettes and use of these products to support smoking cessation.

Factors That Affect the Acceptance of Educational AI Tools by Greek Teachers-A Structural Equation Modelling Study.

The discussion around integrating AI technologies into educational practice is current among scholars and in sociopolitical circles. This study examines the factors influencing teachers' acceptance of educational AI tool (EAIT) use, aiming to inform the development of a pedagogical framework for the responsible integration of AI tools in education. A conceptual model was developed by amalgamating constructs of TAM (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) and UTAUT (social influence and facilitating conditions) while integrating the variables of perceived trust and personal innovativeness and considering the impact of teachers' pedagogical beliefs. A total of 342 Greek teachers participated in the quantitative survey conducted. The proposed model was evaluated using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings illuminated perceived usefulness as the most significant predictor of teachers' behavioural intention to use EAIT. The research also revealed that social influence and personal innovativeness exert considerable influence. While constructivist pedagogical beliefs were found to have no direct impact on EAIT acceptance, the results indicated that educators who embrace those teaching methods exhibit a high propensity to perceive EAIT as useful and trustworthy. Furthermore, the study's analysis demonstrated that trust had a significantly positive effect on usefulness, and innovativeness influences positively and significantly both usefulness and ease of use.

Exploring Nurses' Behavioural Intention to Adopt AI Technology: The Perspectives of Social Influence, Perceived Job Stress and Human-Machine Trust.

AIM: This study examines how social influence, human-machine trust and perceived job stress affect nurses' behavioural intentions towards AI-assisted care technology adoption from a new perspective and framework. It also explores the interrelationships between different types of social influence and job stress dimensions to fill gaps in academic literature. DESIGN: A quantitative cross-sectional study. METHODS: Five hospitals in Taiwan that had implemented AI solutions were selected using purposive sampling. The scales, adapted from relevant literature, were translated into Chinese and modified for context. Questionnaires were distributed to nurses via snowball sampling from May 15 to June 10, 2023. A total of 283 valid questionnaires were analysed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling method. RESULTS: Conformity, obedience and human-machine trust were positively correlated with behavioural intention, while compliance was negatively correlated. Perceived job stress did not significantly affect behavioural intention. Compliance was positively associated with all three job stress dimensions: job uncertainty, technophobia and time pressure, while obedience was correlated with job uncertainty. CONCLUSION: Social influence and human-machine trust are critical factors in nurses' intentions to adopt AI technology. The lack of significant effects from perceived stress suggests that nurses' personal resources mitigate potential stress associated with AI implementation. The study reveals the complex dynamics regarding different types of social influence, human-machine trust and job stress in the context of AI adoption in healthcare. IMPACT: This research extends beyond conventional technology acceptance models by incorporating perspectives on organisational internal stressors and AI-related job stress. It offers insights into the coping mechanisms during the pre-adaption AI process in nursing, highlighting the need for nuanced management approaches. The findings emphasise the importance of considering technological and psychosocial factors in successful AI implementation in healthcare settings. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No Patient or Public Contribution.

Adolescent vaping behaviours: Exploring the dynamics of a social contagion model.

Vaping, or the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), is an ongoing issue for public health. The rapid increase in e-cigarette usage, particularly among adolescents, has often been referred to as an epidemic. Drawing upon this epidemiological analogy between vaping and infectious diseases as a theoretical framework, we present a deterministic compartmental model of adolescent e-cigarette smoking which accounts for social influences on initiation, relapse, and cessation behaviours. We use results from a sensitivity analysis of the model's parameters on various response variables to identify key influences on system dynamics and simplify the model into one that can be analysed more thoroughly. We identify a single feasible endemic equilibrium for the proportion of smokers that decreases as social influence on cessation increases. Through steady state and stability analyses, as well as simulations of the model, we conclude that social influences from and on temporary quitters are not important in overall model dynamics, and that social influences from permanent quitters can have a significant impact on long-term system dynamics. In particular, we show that social influence on cessation can induce persistent recurrent smoking outbreaks.

Changing hearts and minds: theorizing how, when, and under what conditions three social influence implementation strategies work.

Background: Opinion leadership, educational outreach visiting, and innovation championing are commonly used strategies to address barriers to implementing innovations and evidence-based practices in healthcare settings. Despite voluminous research, ambiguities persist in how these strategies work and under what conditions they work well, work poorly, or work at all. The current paper develops middle-range theories to address this gap. Methods: Conceptual articles, systematic reviews, and empirical studies informed the development of causal pathway diagrams (CPDs). CPDs are visualization tools for depicting and theorizing about the causal process through which strategies operate, including the mechanisms they activate, the barriers they address, and the proximal and distal outcomes they produce. CPDs also clarify the contextual conditions (i.e., preconditions and moderators) that influence whether, and to what extent, the strategy's causal process unfolds successfully. Expert panels of implementation scientists and health professionals rated the plausibility of these preliminary CPDs and offered comments and suggestions on them. Findings: Theoretically, opinion leadership addresses potential adopters' uncertainty about likely consequences of innovation use (determinant) by promoting positive attitude formation about the innovation (mechanism), which results in an adoption decision (proximal outcome), which leads to innovation use (intermediate outcome). As this causal process repeats, penetration, or spread of innovation use, occurs (distal outcome). Educational outreach visiting addresses knowledge barriers, attitudinal barriers, and behavioral barriers (determinants) by promoting critical thinking and reflection about evidence and practice (mechanism), which results in behavioral intention (proximal outcome), behavior change (intermediate outcome), and fidelity, or guideline adherence (distal outcome). Innovation championing addresses organizational inertia, indifference, and resistance (determinants) by promoting buy-in to the vision, fostering a positive implementation climate, and increasing collective efficacy (mechanisms), which leads to participation in implementation activities (proximal outcome), initial use of the innovation with increasing skill (intermediate outcome) and, ultimately, greater penetration and fidelity (distal outcomes). Experts found the preliminary CPDs plausible or highly plausible and suggested additional mechanisms, moderators, and preconditions, which were used to amend the initial CPD. Discussion: The middle-range theories depicted in the CPDs furnish testable propositions for implementation research and offer guidance for selecting, designing, and evaluating these social influence implementation strategies in both research studies and practice settings.

Conspiracy beliefs and majority influence.

Conspiracy beliefs (i.e. beliefs in specific conspiracy theories or the more general conspiracy mentality) are associated with a need for uniqueness and lower adherence to social norms. These findings suggest that conspiracy beliefs might be generally associated with less influence by majority opinions - absolutely and compared to minority opinions. In five experiments involving scenarios unrelated to conspiracy theories (overall N = 1669), participants were informed about the majority/minority opinion on a given issue (e.g. the building of a tunnel), afterward indicating their evaluation or voting intentions regarding the issue. We then tested whether the influence of a majority/minority opinion on evaluation or voting intentions is moderated by conspiracy beliefs. Across studies, we find no significant moderation. A meta-analysis confirms no correlation between conspiracy beliefs and susceptibility to majority influence. Taken together, our studies provide no evidence for the assumption that those holding conspiracy beliefs reject majority opinions per se.

Who influences lower-status individuals more: People of higher-status outgroups or people of their lower-status ingroup? Examining the difference between matters of opinion and matters of fact.

People are influenced by members of high-status groups and members of their ingroup. These principles of "status orientation" and "ingroup orientation" can imply opposing forces for people of lower status. Are lower-status individuals more influenced by members of higher-status outgroups or by members of their lower-status ingroup? Engaging status characteristics theory and self-categorization theory, we predict that status orientation is relatively stronger on questions about facts, which have an objectively correct answer, whereas ingroup orientation is stronger when it comes to 'opinion questions' that have no objectively correct answer. Results of an online survey experiment confirm that on factual questions, less-educated individuals are more strongly influenced by highly-educated outgroup individuals than by less-educated ingroup individuals. On opinion questions, we observe relatively weaker status orientation, with status orientation and ingroup orientation being about equally strong. These findings suggest that it is harder to reach societal consensus on opinion questions than on factual questions.

Cultural Values Influence the Developmental Trajectory of Resistance to Social Influence Over the Course of Adolescence.

The opinions of peers are among the most potent factors influencing human decision-making. Research conducted in Western societies suggests that individuals become more resistant to peer influence from late adolescence to adulthood. It is unknown whether this developmental trajectory is universal across cultures. Through two cross-national studies, we present consistent self-report and behavioral evidence for culturally distinct developmental trajectories of resistance to peer influence (RPI). Our findings from the US samples replicated prior findings that reported increasing RPI. Yet, data from the Chinese participants were better fitted using a nonlinear model, displaying a U-shaped trajectory with lowest RPI levels at around 20 years old. In contrast to the long-held belief that increasing RPI from adolescence to early adulthood is a universal developmental trait, we propose that this developmental trajectory may depend on cultural context.

Not our kind of crowd! How partisan bias distorts perceptions of political bots on Twitter (now X).

Social bots, employed to manipulate public opinion, pose a novel threat to digital societies. Existing bot research has emphasized technological aspects while neglecting psychological factors shaping human-bot interactions. This research addresses this gap within the context of the US-American electorate. Two datasets provide evidence that partisanship distorts (a) online users' representation of bots, (b) their ability to identify them, and (c) their intentions to interact with them. Study 1 explores global bot perceptions on through survey data from N = 452 Twitter (now X) users. Results suggest that users tend to attribute bot-related dangers to political adversaries, rather than recognizing bots as a shared threat to political discourse. Study 2 (N = 619) evaluates the consequences of such misrepresentations for the quality of online interactions. In an online experiment, participants were asked to differentiate between human and bot profiles. Results indicate that partisan leanings explained systematic judgement errors. The same data suggest that participants aim to avoid interacting with bots. However, biased judgements may undermine this motivation in praxis. In sum, the presented findings underscore the importance of interdisciplinary strategies that consider technological and human factors to address the threats posed by bots in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

A comprehensive study on factors influencing online impulse buying behavior: Evidence from Shopee video platform.

The rapid expansion of online commerce has significantly altered consumer behavior, particularly among digitally-savvy Generation Z individuals. This research analyzes the influence of product presentation videos on online impulsive buying behaviors in this demographic, using the Shopee video platform as a case study. The study aims to investigate how various external factors, including time pressure (TP), quantity pressure (QP), economic benefits (EB), social influence (SI), visual (VS), and sound (SO), affect online impulse buying by mediating emotions of arousal (AR) and pleasure (PL). This study employed a quantitative approach, and data was collected through a Likert scale questionnaire using a non-probability sampling technique. PLS-SEM statistical analysis was utilized to assess the research model, exploring the interplay of these stimuli in shaping impulsive buying behavior on the Shopee platform, among 438 Vietnamese Generation Z. The study's results indicate significant impacts of all factors on arousal, while time pressure, quantity pressure, and economic benefits did not significantly influence pleasure. Notably, arousal and pleasure emerged as mediators shaping impulsive buying decisions among Generation Z. These findings indicate that strategic use of external factors can effectively trigger emotions, leading to impulsive buying among digital natives. This also offers valuable insights for marketers looking to enhance e-commerce strategies on platforms such as Shopee video. Marketers can trigger customers' impulsive buying by creating a sense of urgency (e.g. flash sales, limited quantities), useful online reviewing, and personalizing discounts. Additionally, using visual and sound strategies in a positive online experience can further enhance this behavior and shape preferences. This study's findings contribute to a deeper understanding of consumer behavior theories in the digital era, highlighting the intricate roles of arousal and pleasure in online impulse buying.

Conformity behavior in crises: evidence from the COVID-19 epidemic in China.

Once a mass health crisis breaks out, it causes concern among whole societies. Thus, understanding the individual's behavior in response to such events is key in government crisis management. From the perspective of social influence theory, this study adopts the empirical research method to collect data information in February 2020 through online survey, with a view to comprehensively describe the individuals'conformity behavior during the COVID-19 outbreak in China. The individual's conformity behavior and new influencing factors were identified. The results revealed that affective risk perception, cognitive risk perception, and individual risk knowledge had a positive significant impact on normative influence. Affective risk perception and individual risk knowledge had a positive significant on informative influence. Cognitive risk perception did not significantly impact informative influence. Informative influence and normative influence had a positive effect on conformity behavior. These results have significant implications for the management behavior of the government.

They approve but they don't act: promoting sustainable minority behavior with (conflicting) social norm appeals.

Background: Social norm appeals are effective in promoting sustainable majority behavior but could backfire when the target behavior is only performed by a minority of people. However, emphasizing that an increasing number of people have started engaging in the behavior or that the majority approve the behavior might prevent such negative effects. However, only a few studies have investigated the combination of descriptive minority and injunctive majority social norm appeals, with inconsistent results. Some studies of minority behavior suggest that the characteristics of recipients might determine the inconsistent results regarding the impact of minority social norm appeals and that social norm appeals could have a greater impact on individuals with weaker environment related dispositions. Method: Two two-wave studies investigated how descriptive minority appeals, injunctive majority appeals, and their combination can be used to motivate sustainable minority behavior and what role environment related dispositions play in this context. In the first part, perceived social norms, environment related dispositions, behavioral intentions, and pre-attitudes were measured. Two weeks later, respondents participated in a 3 (descriptive social norm appeal: static vs. dynamic vs. absent) × 2 (injunctive majority social norm appeal: present vs. absent) between-subjects experiment and watched an explainer video on voluntary carbon offsets that included various social norm appeals. Results: In both studies, we found that social norm appeals influenced perceived social norms. However, persuasive effects were only observed in the first study, and an injunctive majority appeal increased persuasive outcomes, but there were no differences between the descriptive conditions and no differences in their impact depending on individuals' environment related dispositions in either study. Discussion: A single exposure may be insufficient to exert persuasive effects and the change in perceived social norms may first need to be internalized. In online explainer videos, the effects of social norm appeals could be amplified by algorithm-based suggestions and when social norm appeals draw attention to norm-conforming content. However, further research is required on the long-term effects and their possible amplification via social media.

Understanding the selection of support partners in a behavioral weight loss program.

OBJECTIVE: Engaging a support partner during behavioral weight loss (BWL) programs can improve outcomes. However, little information is available about those selected as support partners. The study aimed to (1) characterize support partners and qualities of the relationship, (2) assess differences in relationship dynamics across relationship types, and (3) assess differences in supportive relationships by participant gender. METHODS AND MEASURES: Upon entering a 24-month BWL program, participants (N = 323) nominated a support person from their existing social networks. Participants completed self-report measures at baseline, including the Working Alliance Inventory and study-specific measures assessing characteristics of the support person and comfort in communicating with them. RESULTS: Spouse/partners were chosen by 43.3% of all participants. Among married participants, 80.9% of men and 53.8% of women chose their spouse/partner. Working alliance was lower when the support partner was a spouse/partner versus a friend (p < 0.05, r = -0.19). Comfort talking about exercise with a support partner was higher than talking about eating or weight (p < 0.001, η2p= 0.05). CONCLUSION: A variety of friends and family can be selected as support partners during BWL. Programs should attend to the unique needs of men versus women when identifying sources of support.

Falling Vocal Intonation Signals Speaker Confidence and Conditionally Boosts Persuasion.

People are often advised to project confidence with their bodies and voices to convince others. Prior research has focused on the high and low thinking processes through which vocal confidence signals (e.g., fast speed, falling intonation, low pitch) can influence attitude change. In contrast, this research examines how the vocal confidence of speakers operates under more moderate elaboration levels, revealing that falling intonation only benefits persuasion under certain circumstances. In three experiments, we show that falling (vs. rising) vocal intonation at the ends of sentences can signal speaker confidence. Under moderate elaboration conditions, falling (vs. rising) vocal intonation increased message processing, bolstering the benefit of strong over weak messages, increasing the proportion of message-relevant thoughts, and increasing thought-attitude correspondence. In sum, the present work examined an unstudied role of vocal confidence in guiding persuasion, revealing new processes by which vocal signals increase or fail to increase persuasion.

Exploring the mechanisms driving elderly Fintech engagement: the role of social influence and the elderly's digital literacy.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the elderly digital engagement (acceptance and utilization of technology), with a focus on the widespread application of financial technology: mobile banking (m-banking). Methods: Guided by social influence theory, the research examines the various social dynamics that encourage elderly engagement with m-banking and the moderating effects of their digital literacy. Data was gathered online utilizing a disjunctive approach and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results: The study reveals that both word-of-mouths (WOMs) and peer engagement significantly influence the elderly's perceived usefulness of the platform, thereby influencing their m-banking engagement. Additionally, the level of digital literacy among older adults was found to impact their perceived usefulness of m-banking services. Interestingly, digital literacy among older adults negatively moderates the positive associations of WOMs and peer engagement on perceived usefulness. Discussion: These insights advance our understanding of how social interactions can steer technological engagement, particularly for the silver generation with diverse levels of digital literacy. As society ages and becomes increasingly digitized, it is imperative to promote digital engagement among the elderly and foster a more inclusive digital environment.