Do digital natives use mobile payment differently than digital immigrants? A comparative study between generation X and Z

Consumers use increasingly Near Field Communication mobile payment to buy products and services. However, the adoption of NFC mobile payment varies by individual attributes of consumers. This paper aims to study the generational differences in mobile payment acceptance based on the theory of generational cohorts and technology acceptance. Therefore, a research concept and hypotheses were developed. The research methodology included an online survey among Generation Z (digital natives) and X (digital immigrants). A sample of 580 respondents had been analyzed with multi-group Structural Equation Modeling. The comparative analysis revealed that digital immigrants were more influenced by the perceived ease of use, subjective norms, and financial risk of NFC mobile payment. In turn, digital natives intended to use NFC mobile payment to a greater extent if they perceived mobile payment as compatible with their lifestyle. Our research contributes to the understanding of generational patterns of mobile payment acceptance.