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        <title>Frontiers in Human Dynamics | Digital Impacts section | New and Recent Articles</title>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human-dynamics/sections/digital-impacts</link>
        <description>RSS Feed for Digital Impacts section in the Frontiers in Human Dynamics journal | New and Recent Articles</description>
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        <pubDate>2026-05-10T13:51:08.64+00:00</pubDate>
        <ttl>60</ttl>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1779460</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1779460</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Future-ready skills as catalysts for business competitiveness and growth in Bandung's creative economy]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-08T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Imas Soemaryani</author><author>Meinanda Kurniawan</author><author>Mochammad Chairul Ihsan</author><author>Dara Sagita Triski</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study examines the role of 21st Century Competencies in enhancing the competitiveness and business growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Bandung, a recognized creative economy hub. An explanatory survey was conducted involving 143 MSME owners and managers from the fashion, culinary, and handicraft sectors. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). The results indicate that 21st Century Competencies, including critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and digital literacy, have a positive and significant effect on both MSME competitiveness and business growth. Competitiveness also significantly contributes to MSME growth. The model explains approximately 58% of the variance in business growth. These findings highlight the importance of future-ready skills as strategic capabilities in strengthening MSME competitiveness and sustainability in a rapidly changing market environment. Practically, the results suggest the need to enhance digital literacy, innovation capability, and collaborative skills through targeted training programs and strategic partnerships. However, the findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data from MSMEs in a single city, which may limit generalizability.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1815037</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1815037</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Creation, validation, obsolescence: observed evidence of AI-driven labor market displacement, 2020–2025]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Review</category>
        <author>Nassim Dehouche</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundThe successive releases of GPT-3 (May 2020) and ChatGPT (November 2022) have been widely hypothesized to constitute inflection points in the automation of cognitive labor. Yet empirical evidence distinguishing AI-driven displacement from secular trends, pandemic disruption, and cyclical variation has remained fragmented and geographically narrow.MethodsFollowing PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched six academic databases (Scopus, Web of Science, EconLit, SSRN, IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar) for empirical studies documenting observed—not predicted—labor market changes since 2020. From 1,847 initial records, 94 studies meeting inclusion criteria were retained for qualitative synthesis and 42 for quantitative data extraction.ResultsAcross synthesized studies, converging evidence documents: (1) a 14–41% reduction in postings for entry- and mid-level software development and content-creation roles in high-income economies between 2022 and 2024 (range across individual studies: −14% to −41%; median: −23%); these figures are not pooled estimates but represent the span observed across non-overlapping study designs and geographies, and should be interpreted as illustrative of the order of magnitude of the effect rather than as a meta-analytic point estimate. (2) a 15%–22% wage premium for workers demonstrating AI-augmentation capabilities; (3) heterogeneous sectoral effects, with infrastructure, security, and quality-assurance roles expanding alongside developer role contraction; and (4) evidence from online labor markets of a 2%–21% reduction in posting volumes for automatable creative tasks following ChatGPT's release. Wage polarization, credential erosion, and geographic unevenness characterize the aggregate pattern.ConclusionsObservable labor market data, while constrained by short observation windows, already document patterns consistent with AI-driven displacement rather than mere transformation—concentrated among routine cognitive tasks and junior roles, with preliminary but material evidence that developing economies reliant on cognitive services outsourcing face disproportionate disruption through both direct exposure and indirect demand-erosion channels. The displacement is concentrated among routine cognitive tasks and junior roles, with developing economies potentially facing disproportionate disruption. Persistent data gaps—especially concerning worker-level outcomes, informal labor, and non-Anglophone markets—warrant urgent research investment.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1838858</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1838858</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Algorithmic governance and criminal justice: a comparative analysis of ethical AI frameworks in Jordan and Oman]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-05-07T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Amjad Sauod AL-Khrisha</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundThe increasing application of artificial intelligence (AI) within criminal justice poses problems related to transparency, accountability, and human rights. Although the international discourse on ethical AI has gained attention, comparative research in Global South settings is still scarce.MethodsThis paper employs qualitative comparative analysis to explore AI governance in Jordan and Oman's criminal justice systems. It examines policy texts covering the period from 2020 to 2025, focusing on principles of transparency, accountability, fairness, privacy, and human oversight, guided by the “silicon cage” framework.ResultsBoth Jordan and Oman align with global ethical AI standards; however, a policy -law gap persists, as governance frameworks rely primarily on non-binding instruments. While similar principles are present, Jordanian policies emphasize human rights, whereas Omani policies prioritize development-oriented objectives.ConclusionConvergence in normative principles does not translate into uniform regulatory implementation. Contextual factors play a decisive role in shaping governance outcomes.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1783752</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1783752</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Factors influencing consumer intention to adopt FinTech: an extended TAM–UTAUT trust model]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Rohail Hassan</author><author>Syed Yaser Tanvir Ahmad</author><author>Mohamad Khoiru Rusydi</author><author>Costinela Fortea</author><author>Valentin Marian Antohi</author><author>Ioana Lazarescu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In the financial services industry, the incorporation of cutting-edge technologies such as blockchain, big data, and enhanced security systems has facilitated the development of innovative financial business models, services, and products. Countries like China and India are capitalizing on these developments, benefiting from lower transaction costs and increased financial inclusion. On the other hand, only 15% of Kuwait’s population is adopting Financial Technology (FinTech). There is, however, little research on the driving forces behind intention to adopt FinTech in the nation. This quantitative research examines the impact of data security, brand image, performance expectations, and digital literacy on trust in FinTech services. Additionally, it investigates the role of trust as a mediating factor and examines how effort expectancy and user innovativeness moderate consumers’ intentions to adopt FinTech in Kuwait. The study used a survey to collect valid responses from 463 individuals in the country and employed PLS-SEM (partial least squares structural equation modeling) to analyze the data. The results indicate that digital literacy, brand image, and performance expectations have a positive and significant impact on a person’s trust and intention to use FinTech. On the other hand, user innovation, effort expectations, and data security do not affect the intention. The study suggests that enhancing digital literacy is crucial for increasing awareness and understanding. At the same time, brand reputation and performance expectations significantly shape consumer perceptions, foster trust, and increase the likelihood of FinTech adoption. This research applies the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) to assess the proposed research framework and address notable gaps in theory and empirical evidence regarding FinTech adoption in Kuwait. To increase FinTech adoption in the region, service providers concentrate on improving their brand perception and value proposition. At the same time, stakeholders such as regulators should work to improve digital literacy and foster trust.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1787728</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1787728</link>
        <title><![CDATA[How AI shapes student agency and educational stratification: a qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-28T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Systematic Review</category>
        <author>Flavio Manganello</author><author>Giancarlo Masi</author><author>Alberto Nico</author><author>Giannangelo Boccuzzi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Existing research on artificial intelligence in education has largely addressed technical applications and learning outcomes while leaving sociological dimensions of AI-mediated stratification and student agency inadequately theorised. Drawing on Bourdieu's cultural capital framework, digital divide scholarship, and Yosso's Community Cultural Wealth model, this qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis examines how AI-mediated learning environments interact with established stratification mechanisms and transform student agency. Systematic searches across Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and ERIC identified five qualitative and mixed-methods studies encompassing 3,849 students across the United States, Norway, Israel, and China; thematic analysis followed Braun and Clarke's framework with four-analyst triangulation. Five mechanisms emerged through which AI technologies simultaneously reproduce traditional educational inequalities while generating alternative stratification forms: cultural capital mobilization through resistant, communal, and creative capital; differential engagement patterns across four distinct agency expressions; digital divide persistence and evolution; trust calibration in human-AI interaction; and educational equity implications with career dimensions. Students from underserved communities demonstrated sophisticated algorithmic bias recognition, yet gender-differentiated engagement patterns and socioeconomic disparities indicate emergent stratification with professional consequences. Lower AI trust paradoxically correlated with stronger educational outcomes, tentatively suggesting that healthy skepticism promotes more agentic learning relationships. These findings indicate that AI-mediated stratification operates through qualitative differences in how students position themselves relative to algorithmic systems and mobilize cultural resources, rather than through differential access alone, with implications for how educational institutions conceptualise equity-oriented AI integration.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1739895</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1739895</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Gendered digital coping and cultural moderation: developing the GDCAM model among university students in Makassar]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-22T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Jeanny Maria Fatimah</author><author>Indrayanti Indrayanti</author><author>Riyadi Riyadi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This study examines how undergraduate students in Makassar, Indonesia, use smartphones as coping mechanisms to manage psychological distress related to academic pressure, uncertainty, and social demands. Adopting a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study involved 18 participants from three universities, selected based on low, moderate, and high distress levels using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. The findings identify four dominant forms of digital coping: digital entertainment, academic information-seeking, online social support, and digital religiosity. These strategies operate as a dynamic and communicatively enacted system, where students shift between emotional regulation, problem-solving, and relational interaction through smartphone use. The study further reveals that gender shapes coping orientations, with female students emphasizing relational and emotion-focused communication, while male students rely more on indirect and problem-focused strategies. Importantly, local cultural values, particularly siri' na pacce, function as active moderators that regulate emotional expression, disclosure patterns, and communication boundaries in digital environments. These findings lead to the development of the Gendered Digital Coping Adaptation Model (GDCAM), which conceptualizes digital coping as a cyclical and context-dependent process shaped by psychological distress, mediated communication, gender norms, and cultural values. Theoretically, this study advances digital coping research by integrating communication, cultural, and gender perspectives, moving beyond individualistic and Western-centric frameworks. Practically, the findings highlight the need for culturally grounded and gender-responsive digital mental health interventions that align with students' communication practices.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1806347</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1806347</link>
        <title><![CDATA[The confluence of IT objectives with the organization’s digital transformation strategy]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-15T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Avrill Mukhithi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundAligning IT goals with organizational digital transformation is a crucial strategic requirement. For IT to be successful, it must be acknowledged as a key source of corporate value rather than just a support role. The main goal of this convergence is to leverage technology to radically change organization’s structures, procedures, and consumer interactions. IT projects must directly support more general strategy objectives like agility, innovation, and data-driven decision-making for integration to be effective. As a result, a conscious and ongoing effort is required to align technical capabilities with changing organizational goals.ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the alignment between an organization’s digital transformation strategy and IT objectives by exploring the integration of broader strategic digital initiatives with the IT operational goals.MethodThe systematic literature review method was used in this paper to gather a variety of articles from ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Sabinet databases. PRISMA framework-based inclusion and exclusion criteria was applied.ResultsThe study analysis reveals that integrating IT objectives during the digital strategy’s formulation stage, rather than as a later implementation step, is crucial to achieving strategic alignment. Businesses achieve much greater synergy and prevent expensive misalignment when they view IT as a co-architect of change rather than a service role. One important conclusion is that shared performance measures that connect strategic and operational objectives, as well as nimble governance frameworks, are essential for successful confluence. On the other hand, strict, compartmentalized planning and budgeting cycles that bind IT to legacy goals are the main source of contention.ConclusionA key factor in determining an organization’s success is how well IT goals align with the digital transformation plan. By integrating IT leadership and skills into the fundamental strategic planning process, alignment is accomplished rather than only through compliance. The results indicate that when IT goals are presented as direct contributors to strategic outcomes like customer-centric innovation or agile operations, they drive change rather than just assist it. Organizations need to establish governance and collaborative structures that consistently align tactical IT execution with the changing digital vision.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1790473</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1790473</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Civil liability and cyber insurance for electronic bank account hacking under Jordanian law: a doctrinal and comparative analysis]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-14T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ahmad Awwad Albnian</author><author>Ahmed M. Khawaldeh</author><author>Ghazi Ayed Alghathian</author><author>Adel Salem Allouzi</author><author>Murad Abdul Rahim Mahmoud Al-Faouri</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionThe rapid expansion of electronic banking has significantly increased exposure to cyber risks, including phishing attacks and unauthorized electronic payment transactions. These developments raise complex legal questions concerning civil liability, loss allocation, and compensation mechanisms, particularly within legal systems that lack specialized regulatory frameworks.MethodsThis study employs a doctrinal and comparative legal methodology. It analyzes the applicable provisions of Jordanian civil, commercial, and banking law, alongside relevant regulatory instruments, and compares them with selected foreign legal frameworks, including European payment services regulation, South African jurisprudence, and U.S. consumer protection laws governing electronic fund transfers.ResultsThe findings reveal that Jordanian law relies primarily on general fault-based liability principles under the Civil Code and Commercial Code, without establishing a specific legal regime for unauthorized electronic transactions. This approach imposes a substantial evidentiary burden on customers, despite banks' superior technical control over digital payment systems. In contrast, comparative legal systems increasingly adopt risk-based or hybrid liability models that favor consumer protection and institutional responsibility. The analysis further demonstrates that cyber insurance, while recognized internationally as a key mechanism for risk allocation and compensation, remains underdeveloped and insufficiently integrated into the Jordanian legal and regulatory framework.DiscussionThe study concludes that the current Jordanian legal framework is inadequate to address the systemic risks associated with electronic banking. It proposes the introduction of a statutory regime governing unauthorized electronic payment transactions, including presumptive bank liability, clearer allocation of risk between banks and customers, and the integration of cyber insurance as a complementary compensation mechanism. Such reforms are essential to enhance consumer protection, ensure effective compensation, and maintain financial system stability.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1721285</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1721285</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Digital marketing’s targets: cyberloafing and impulsive buying]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Tibrani Tibrani</author><author>Catur Fatchu Ukhriyawati</author><author>Lukmanul Hakim</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In the present era, digitalization has become a primary tool that reshapes how individuals search for information, interact with content, and make consumption decisions. While many studies highlight the advantages of digital marketing, its potential downsides and behavioral risks remain under-discussed. This study examines the associations among digital marketing exposure (DM), cyberloafing (CB), and impulsive buying (IB), including an indirect pathway via a mediating variable. Using a cross-sectional survey conducted from June to November 2025, 375 students responded and 332 valid questionnaires (88.53%) were analyzed. Data were processed using Microsoft Excel and SmartPLS (PLS-SEM with bootstrapping). The results indicate positive and statistically significant associations between DM and CB (β = 0.777, p < 0.001), DM and IB (β = 0.222, p < 0.001), and CB and IB (β = 0.752, p < 0.001). The indirect path (DM, CB, IB) is also positive (β = 0.584, p < 0.001), suggesting that CB statistically mediates the association between DM and IB. Given the cross-sectional design, these findings should be interpreted as correlational rather than causal. The study underscores the importance of digital literacy, responsible marketing practices, and educational guidelines to mitigate counterproductive online behavior and unplanned purchasing.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1750961</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1750961</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Legal regulation of digital currencies]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-04-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Eman Al-Wreikat</author><author>Yasar Al-Hiniti</author><author>Salah Awaisheh</author><author>Hiba Kobarie</author><author>Wesam Al-Hobabseh</author>
        <description><![CDATA[IntroductionDigital currencies have emerged as a significant financial innovation, raising complex legal, economic, and regulatory challenges across jurisdictions. While some countries have established comprehensive regulatory frameworks, others, including Jordan, continue to face legal uncertainty due to the absence of clear legislation. This study examines the legal status and regulatory approaches to digital currencies, with particular reference to the German and United Arab Emirates (UAE) models, and evaluates their applicability within the Jordanian legal context.MethodsThe study adopts a descriptive-analytical and comparative legal methodology. It analyzes legislative texts, institutional reports, and academic literature to assess how different jurisdictions regulate digital currencies. The research focuses on legal classification, regulatory oversight, licensing mechanisms, and compliance requirements, and compares these approaches to identify suitable regulatory solutions for Jordan.ResultsThe findings reveal significant variation in regulatory approaches worldwide. Some jurisdictions recognize digital currencies as financial instruments subject to licensing and regulatory supervision, while others impose restrictions or maintain unclear legal positions. In Jordan, the absence of a comprehensive legal framework has resulted in regulatory gaps, legal uncertainty, and limited investor protection. By contrast, the German model provides legal certainty through classification and licensing, while the UAE model offers effective institutional supervision and regulatory oversight.DiscussionThe study concludes that digital currencies can be legally integrated into national financial systems when supported by a clear and balanced regulatory framework. Based on the comparative analysis, the research proposes the adoption of a hybrid regulatory model in Jordan, combining legal classification, licensing requirements, and institutional supervision. Such a framework would enhance legal certainty, strengthen investor protection, reduce financial risks, and support sustainable financial and economic development while maintaining regulatory control.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1748542</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1748542</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Associations between social media usage, daily routines, and academic performance among undergraduate Rwandan students: a cross-sectional study]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-30T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Gihozo Olivier Mushimiyimana</author><author>Delphine Uwihirwe</author><author>Felicien Habingabire</author><author>Joseph Nshimiyimana</author><author>Potien Uwihoreye</author><author>Pierre Damien Turikumana</author><author>Lizahn. G. Cloete</author><author>Emmanuel Biracyaza</author>
        <description><![CDATA[BackgroundGlobally, technological progression has changed social media usage into daily occupations which influence how people engage, communicate, and learn. Among university students, these platforms enhance collective learning and access to information; but underuse or overuse may damage academic engagement, occupational balance, and daily functioning. Despite the growing importance and use of these social media in Rwanda, research on its impact remains scarce. Therefore, we assessed the associations between social media use, daily routines, and academic performance among undergraduate students.MethodA cross-sectional study was conducted among 219 undergraduate students from the University of Rwanda. Descriptive statistics summarize demographic characteristics and social medial use patterns. Analytical analyses comprised multinomial, logistic, and multiple linear regression models to determine predictors of daily routines and academic outcomes. Odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals and statistically significant at p < 0.05 were used.ResultsAlmost all participants (n = 192, 87.7%) engaged in social media platforms for academic purposes, and 93.6% viewed platforms as important to their collaboration with peers and professionals. However, nearly half (47.5%) experienced academic distraction, and 56.7% spent more time on non-academic content. Engaging in social media accounts for 33,6% of variance in increasing academic engagement. However, addicted students to social media had higher likelihoods to experience routine disruption (OR = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.10–1.90, p = 0.01) than non-addicted peers. Participants engaged in more than three social media platforms reported more disruptions (OR = 1.60, 95%CI: 1.05–2.45, p = 0.03) than those engaging in three or less platforms. The third-year students were almost twice as likely as first-year students to experience those disruptions (OR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.20–2.55, p = 0.003).ConclusionSocial media platforms are important sources for learning, yet they also cause routine disruptions. These results notify that future scholars are recommended to explore causal relationships between social media use and daily routines disruptions through longitudinal designs.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1790324</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1790324</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Generative artificial intelligence and epistemic (in)justice: perspectives from higher education students in the Global North and South]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-27T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Yusuf Damilola Olaniyan</author><author>Mercy Onyemaechi Martins</author><author>Rahab Harib Al Maqrashi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[In this research, we explore how students from the Global North and Global South understand the role of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) in shaping access to knowledge and epistemic (in)justice in higher education. We draw on theoretical logic of epistemic justice and postcolonial framework to explicate how GAI mediates knowledge hierarchies across diverse epistemological contexts. Using a qualitative approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 university students, five from the Global North and five from the Global South, to understand their everyday engagements with GAI. We found that students from the Global South often rely on GAI out of necessity to navigate infrastructural and institutional constraints, which limit their epistemic agency to choose whether to engage with such technologies. While GAI enables access to paywalled research and institutional resources, participants expressed concerns about the reliability, authority, and contextual grounding of GAI-generated knowledge. In contrast, students from Global North described GAI as a convenient but non-essential tool and were more critical of its epistemic limitations. Overall, our findings visibilised GAI’s dual role as both a knowledge democratizing resource and a tool with the potential to become a digital colonizer. We therefore recommend improvement beyond prompting or more training data to a new standard of epistemic accountability, where GAI systems are designed to disclose their limits, qualify their claims, and resist the temptation to perform authority where none exists.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1785582</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1785582</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Metaverse-driven cultural communication: a case study of digital heritage experiences in Sharjah]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Thouraya Snoussi</author><author>Alaa Makki Abdulhadi Akkof</author><author>Majdi Faleh</author><author>Makram Mestiri</author><author>Arnaud Huftier</author><author>Mourad Abed</author><author>Islam Habis Mohammad Hatamleh</author>
        <description><![CDATA[General contextThe growing humanization of immersive digital platforms, such as Virtual Reality (VR) and metaverse experiences, is changing the process of communicating, accessing, and experiencing cultural heritage globally. The technologies will provide new opportunities in the area of improving the interaction with the population, heritage education, and cultural preservation without being restricted by the physical locations.LimitationsAlthough these interest levels are on the rise globally, there is still very little empirical evidence regarding perceptions of the populace, user acceptance and contextual issues in the Arab world. Namely, the gap is in the regionally-based research that investigates the experience of digital and metaverse-based heritage platforms by various publics in culturally particular contexts, including the United Arab Emirates.MethodTo fill this gap, the present study is based on a mixed-method case study on the subject of digital heritage experiences in Sharjah. To measure accessibility, pattern of engagement, perceived benefits and limitations, quantitative data were gathered by surveying 317 respondents using snowball and purposive sampling. The qualitative data were obtained in the form of a focus group comprising eight students and educators, which allowed exploring the issue of experiential use, motivations, and barriers in depth. This is analysed using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Constructivist Learning Theory.ResultsThe results show that the attitude towards the metaverse-based cultural communication is rather positive but sceptical. The participants appreciated the opportunity of immersive learning, increased accessibility, and the possibility of preservation, and voiced concerns connected to authenticity, the inclusivity of languages, digital inequality, cost, and data privacy. The involvement was moderate and intermittent and younger and better educated users showed more acceptance and confidence in digital heritage technologies.ImplicationsThese findings indicate that the effective implementation of the metaverse technologies within the cultural communication process requires not only the technical innovation but also the culturally oriented design, non-exclusive approach to access, and favouring institutional and policy environments. By making Sharjah a regional example, the research provides empirical data to the global digital heritage discussion and provides a hands-on advice on how to build human-focused, culturally authentic and socially inclusive virtual heritage spaces.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1795513</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1795513</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Human–AI Interaction in isolated, confined, and extreme environments: psychological, ethical, and design perspectives]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-20T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Isaac Osei</author><author>Anil Carie</author><author>Lakshmi Prasanna Kanithi</author><author>Dennis Opoku Boadu</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Human activity is increasingly extending into environments marked by isolation, confinement, and extreme conditions, including long-duration space missions, polar research stations, intensive care units, and other high-risk settings. In these contexts, individuals must sustain performance and wellbeing under persistent cognitive, emotional, and social strain. Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are now deeply embedded in such environments, supporting decision making, monitoring, training, and, in some cases, psychological wellbeing. Yet research on AI in extreme settings has largely emphasized technical performance and automation, with comparatively limited attention to the lived experience of sustained Human–AI Interaction (HAI). This perspective paper argues that isolated, confined, or extreme (ICE) environments represent a uniquely revealing context for examining HAI. The psychological pressures characteristic of ICE settings—such as prolonged isolation, cognitive fatigue, stress, and high consequences of error—fundamentally shape how humans perceive, trust, and rely on AI systems. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature from human factors, psychology, and AI research, the paper conceptualizes ICE environments as a stress test for HAI, where issues of trust calibration, autonomy, transparency, and social attribution are amplified. Rather than treating AI solely as a decision aid, this perspective highlights how AI systems in ICE contexts may function as cognitive partners, social surrogates, or perceived teammates. The paper concludes by outlining key implications for the design, evaluation, and governance of AI systems intended for extreme environments, emphasizing the need for interaction-centered approaches that prioritize human experience alongside technical performance.]]></description>
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        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1744431</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1744431</link>
        <title><![CDATA[How gaming motivation is associated with entrepreneurial passion: a sequential mediation model of entrepreneurial curiosity and self-efficacy]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-19T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Ardita Malaj</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Entrepreneurial passion is a vital emotional catalyst for chance exploration, perseverance, and venture establishment; nevertheless, its development prior to entrepreneurial involvement is not well comprehended. Simultaneously, digital gaming has emerged as a widespread pursuit among young, especially in Saudi Arabia, where elevated game engagement aligns with national initiatives to foster entrepreneurship under Vision 2030. Notwithstanding this convergence, current research has predominantly neglected to examine the extent to which non-business digital behaviors influence the development of entrepreneurial enthusiasm. This study aims to bridge this gap by developing and empirically testing a sequential cognitive model that connects gaming motivation to entrepreneurial passion via entrepreneurial curiosity and entrepreneurial self-efficacy. The model incorporates concepts from Self-Determination Theory, Information-Gap Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, and identity-based passion theory. Employing covariance-based structural equation modeling on survey data from 435 young adults in Saudi Arabia, the results indicate that gaming motivation positively predicts entrepreneurial curiosity and entrepreneurial self-efficacy, whereas entrepreneurial curiosity significantly boosts self-efficacy. Curiosity and self-efficacy significantly enhance entrepreneurial passion. Conversely, gaming motivation does not exert a substantial direct influence on entrepreneurial enthusiasm, suggesting that passion does not stem solely from digital interaction but rather arises from curiosity-driven inquiry and faith in one’s capabilities. This study enhances entrepreneurship research by recognizing gaming motivation as a non-business precursor to entrepreneurial passion, identifying entrepreneurial curiosity as a crucial cognitive mechanism in the formation of passion, and situating these processes within a youth-driven entrepreneurial transformation. The results establish digital gaming as a scalable psychological asset for the development of entrepreneurial human capital in digitally intensive economies.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1695869</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1695869</link>
        <title><![CDATA[AI smart glasses, ambient computing, and the public sphere: a mini review of media governance challenges]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Samira Setoutah</author><author>Elsir Ali Saad Mohamed</author><author>Khalid Ibrahim Abdelaziz Ishag</author><author>Widad Haroon Ahamed Mohamed</author><author>Khalid Osman Mahmoud Mohamed</author>
        <description><![CDATA[AI-powered smart glasses are increasingly positioned as central interfaces within the paradigm of ambient computing, signaling a transition from smartphone-centric interaction toward continuous, context-aware mediation embedded in everyday environments. Drawing on peer-reviewed research published between 2022 and 2025, alongside selected regulatory, market, and technical sources, this article examines how AI smart glasses reconfigure visibility, datafication, and communicative power in public and semi-public spaces. Grounded in critical media theory—including remediation, the attention economy, surveillance capitalism, data colonialism, and critical algorithm studies—the review conceptualizes smart glasses as ambient media infrastructures rather than neutral consumer devices. The analysis demonstrates that these technologies intensify long-standing media governance challenges by relocating mediation from screens to first-person perceptual layers, raising urgent questions about privacy, consent, algorithmic bias, data sovereignty, and democratic participation. By situating AI smart glasses within debates on platform power and the public sphere, the article argues for proactive, participatory, and infrastructure-level governance frameworks capable of addressing the societal implications of ambient AI-mediated perception.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1673633</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1673633</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Beyond legality: a holistic perspective on Indonesia’s illegal fintech epidemic]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-10T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Perspective</category>
        <author>Erwin Asmadi</author><author>Rizal Khadafi</author>
        <description><![CDATA[This perspective article argues that the rampant spread and resilience of illegal online lending (pinjaman online or pinjol) in Indonesia is not merely a legal violation to be policed, but a symptom of a broader, deep-seated systemic failure. While government crackdowns, including the shutdown of thousands of illicit platforms and mass arrests, are necessary immediate interventions, these measures largely treat the symptoms rather than the underlying disease. We posit that the endurance of illegal fintech stems from a complex, self-reinforcing crucible of socio-economic desperation, a critical deficit in functional financial literacy, a digital culture that aggressively encourages consumption over savings, and a technological agility on the supply side that consistently outpaces regulatory frameworks. By analyzing scholarly literature and media reports, we demonstrate that this phenomenon parallels other intractable societal issues in Indonesia, such as the consumption of lethal bootleg alcohol (oplosan) and the persistent flow of undocumented migrant workers. In all these cases, high-risk illegal choices are made not out of criminal intent, but out of perceived necessity due to structural exclusion. We contend that a sustainable solution demands a radical paradigm shift: moving from a strictly punitive “whack-a-mole” approach to a holistic strategy focused on prevention and inclusion. This requires a coordinated national effort to revolutionize financial literacy education, compel the design of inclusive financial products for the informal sector, foster responsible financial habits through community leadership, and implement adaptive, technology-driven regulation. Only by addressing the root causes of both supply and demand can Indonesia hope to dismantle the illegal fintech ecosystem and build a resilient, ethical, and truly inclusive digital finance landscape.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1747642</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1747642</link>
        <title><![CDATA[FinTech-enabled digital transformation for sustainable performance: the strategic role of dynamic capabilities]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-05T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Muhammad Tanveer</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The role of technological innovation as a key part of corporate strategy has become increasingly prominent in the literature. There is a lack of empirical research examining the role of FinTech adoption in firms’ sustainable performance through internal transformation processes and strategic capabilities. The present study is based on the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Dynamic Capabilities framework (DC); it suggests a theoretical model that evaluates the mediating role of Digital Transformation (DT) and the moderating role of the Dynamic Capabilities (DC) on the association between FinTech Adoption (FTA), and Firm Sustainable Performance (FSP). Primary data were collected on a sample of 277 companies based in Riyadh Saudi Arabia and then apply to Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to establish the test hypothesized relationships. Findings demonstrate that there is a strong positive relationship between FinTech adoption and digital transformation, and that the concluding has a downstream constructive influence on the sustainable performance regarding economic, social, and environmental aspects. Furthermore, DC become an important positive moderator, which intensifies the influence of DT on sustainable performance; companies with strong adaptive and reconfiguring capabilities obtain better sustainability results of their DT activities. Combining the concept of FTA and DC into the unified strategy of sustainability, this work contributes to the theoretical discourse and can be applied in practice by organizations who want to use digital technologies in an attempt to achieve sustainable development in contemporary markets.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1787488</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1787488</link>
        <title><![CDATA[Can digital financial inclusion promote counties’ industrial structure upgrading?]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-03-02T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Original Research</category>
        <author>Chen Jiao</author>
        <description><![CDATA[Industrial structure upgrading (ISU) is the core driver of China’s high-quality economic development and rural revitalization, yet county-level economies face severe structural imbalances, with digital financial inclusion (DFI) emerging as a critical support for industrial restructuring. Based on panel data of 1,772 counties in China, threshold regression models are adopted to empirically investigate the nonlinear impact of DFI on ISU. The results show that DFI has a significant double threshold effect on ISU, with its promotional effect rising from 2.08% to 3.40% and then falling to 2.82% across successive threshold stages; a 1% increase in DFI can drive a typical county with a GDP of RMB 30 billion to achieve an annual increase of RMB 13.92 million to 22.74 million in tertiary industry output via resource reallocation from manufacturing to high-value-added services. Among the three core sub-dimensions of DFI, digitization level is the foundational driver of its overall effect on ISU, and DFI optimizes county-level industrial structure through two channels of boosting manufacturing output and facilitating regional innovation. This study enriches county-level DFI-ISU literature and provides actionable policy insights for governments to leverage DFI for industrial upgrading through strengthened rural financial digitization, optimized resource allocation, and targeted policies.]]></description>
      </item><item>
        <guid isPermaLink="true">https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1791655</guid>
        <link>https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fhumd.2026.1791655</link>
        <title><![CDATA[AI-generated visual disinformation and digital equity: an intersectional analysis of algorithmic vulnerabilities among marginalised communities]]></title>
        <pubdate>2026-02-26T00:00:00Z</pubdate>
        <category>Mini Review</category>
        <author>Vinanda Cinta Cendekia Putri</author>
        <description><![CDATA[The proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies has fundamentally transformed the landscape of visual disinformation, creating novel challenges for digital equity and social justice. This mini review examines how AI-generated and AI-amplified visual content disproportionately impacts marginalised communities through intersecting vulnerabilities related to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographic location, and digital literacy. Drawing on intersectional theory and social identity frameworks, we synthesise recent empirical evidence demonstrating that algorithmic systems systematically disadvantage specific demographic groups through biased content generation, inequitable distribution mechanisms, and differential access to verification tools. Our analysis reveals that communities of colour, low-income populations, and individuals in the Global South face compounded risks from AI-driven disinformation ecosystems. We identify critical gaps in current interventions and propose equity-centred approaches to address these disparities, including algorithmic accountability frameworks, culturally responsive media literacy programs, and inclusive platform design. This review contributes to emerging scholarship at the intersection of AI ethics, communication studies, and social equity by highlighting how technological systems reproduce and amplify existing societal inequalities.]]></description>
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