Gender Perceptions of IoT Technologies in Smart Cities

Abstract

Highlights: What are the main findings? Based on surveys on the acceptance of IoT technology in smart cities using the SEM model, it was proved that women exhibited significantly higher trust, perceived safety, and support for environmental IoT applications compared with men. IoT acceptance is driven by perceived usefulness for men, whereas safety and environmental awareness are key factors for women. What is the implication of the main finding? Smart city policies should incorporate gender-sensitive strategies to enhance safety and sustainability in urban IoT adoption. Targeted education and awareness campaigns are essential to address privacy concerns and improve public acceptance of IoT technologies. The rapid integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in smart cities enhances urban management, yet public acceptance remains crucial for successful deployment. This study examined gender-based differences in IoT acceptance through a survey of 288 respondents from Warsaw and Plock, analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results revealed that women demonstrated significantly higher trust in IoT (+0.93, p < 0.001), greater perceived safety (+0.24, p = 0.013), and stronger support for environmental IoT applications (+0.48, p = 0.007) than men. While perceived usefulness was the strongest predictor of IoT acceptance for men (β = 0.523, p < 0.001), safety (β = 0.286, p = 0.001) and environmental awareness (β = 0.507, p < 0.001) drove acceptance among women. These findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive urban technology policies, emphasizing safety and sustainability to foster inclusive smart city development. The research results can be used by city authorities to learn about the requirements and concerns of residents to design a city that meets all residents’ requirements and better communicates IoT technology. Furthermore, the study underscores the importance of targeted education and awareness campaigns to address privacy concerns and promote broader adoption of IoT-driven solutions in urban environments.