Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Digital Wallet Usage Among Youth

Abstract

Financial technology (FinTech) has become more ubiquitous in an era of accelerating internet technology and rising e-commerce. With the increasing digitisation of the marketplace, smartphones are now used not only for communication but also as a means of payment in a number of countries. Several initiatives have been undertaken to accelerate the digital transformation of the business, including the use of digital wallets by young adults. Given the scarcity of research examining FinTech adoption from a human behaviour perspective, this study will examine the elements that motivate people to use digital wallets. Three major themes were theoretically derived using a qualitative technique and Maslow's hierarchy of needs as the research instrument. The main reasons why young adults use digital wallets were found to be “youth digitalization,” “technological anxiety,” and a “positive attitude toward technology use.”