Technological identity and basic psychological needs in the use of new technologies: A two-wave cross-national survey study

AI and smart technologies are increasingly embedded in almost all aspects of everyday life, and their usage might inevitably affect individuals’ self-concept and psychological and social well-being. Evidently, cross-national and longitudinal analyses of this phenomenon and its mediating factors are required. To this end, our study examined how in-group identification with new technology users influences individuals’ satisfaction of the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the context of new technology use. We used longitudinal two-wave data collected from 18- to 75-year-old adult populations in Finland ( N = 1541), France ( N = 1561), Germany ( N = 1529), Ireland ( N = 1112), Italy ( N = 1530), and Poland (N = 1533). Based on hybrid multilevel regression models, we found consistent evidence across these six European countries that individuals’ in-group identification with new technology users is positively associated with relatedness but negatively associated with autonomy and competence. Our results suggest that the level of social identification with other technology users is a meaningful social context that shapes the well-being outcomes of new technologies. • This study examined how in-group identification with new technology users influences satisfaction of basic psychological needs. • Longitudinal study included participants from 6 European countries in two-waves. • In-group identification as a new technology user predicts lower autonomy and competence. • In-group identification as a new technology user predicts higher relatedness. • Findings highlight the significance of technological identity in digital well-being.