Diffusion of Innovations in the Digital Age: Trends, Hotspots, and Research Frontiers (1990–2025)

Abstract

       This study conducts a bibliometric review of Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) research in the digital age, drawing on 404 publications indexed in Scopus from 1990 to 2025. Using performance indicators, co-authorship analysis, and keyword co-occurrence mapping, it identifies long-term trends, influential contributors, thematic clusters, and research frontiers. Results reveal a sharp increase in DOI-related publications after 2010, peaking in 2024, with the United States as the leading contributor, while Malaysia, India, and China emerge as critical regional hubs. Thematic evolution shows a progression from early concerns with ICT adoption and the digital divide to organizational adoption models (TAM, TOE, UTAUT), and more recently, to emerging frontiers such as artificial intelligence, generative AI, ChatGPT, and blockchain.

This study provides one of the most comprehensive syntheses of DOI research across three decades, demonstrating its adaptability to digital transformation contexts. The findings offer insights for scholars advancing DOI theory, policymakers shaping digital innovation strategies, and practitioners managing technology adoption in complex ecosystems, while highlighting future opportunities in generative and immersive technologies.