The Moderating Effect of Digital Empowerment on the Relationships between Old Age and Online Services Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Korean

Abstract

Background: Older adults experiencing difficulty using digital technology have to find Online Services Related to Coronavirus Disease. This study examined the relationship between age and the use of various online services related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the moderating effect of consumers’ digital empowerment in this relationship. Methods: A regression analysis was performed to examine how respondents’ characteristics affect consumer empowerment. Further, a general linear model was used to investigate the main and interaction effects of age and empowerment on the recognition and experience of services related to COVID-19 using the 2021 Information Divide Index in Korea. Results: The results confirm that the recognition and experience of online services related to COVID-19 differ according to age. Additionally, the difference according to age was moderated by consumer empowerment. Conclusion: When empowerment was high, the difference in recognition and experiences of online services related to COVID-19 decreased with age.