Digital differences among older people: they use the internet, but each in their own way

A study conducted by researchers from the Centre for Social Informatics at UL FDV, Jerneja Laznik, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Andraž Petrovčič, Assist. Prof. Dr. Simona Hvalič Touzery, in collaboration with Dr. Bianca C. Reisdorf (University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, USA) shows that older people are not a homogeneous group with no interest in digital technologies, but rather display very diverse forms of digital inclusion and adaptation to modern digital society.

Past studies have shown that many older adults, regardless of whether they use the internet or not, often ask others to perform online activities on their behalf. The authors therefore included both users-by-proxy and proxy users in their study. In this way, they comprehensively captured the experiences of older Internet users and non-users aged 65 and over and explored ways in which they face the challenges of digital exclusion in an increasingly digitized society.

The results show that social and personal pressures associated with the increasing digitization of everyday life often cause feelings of exclusion and insecurity among older people. These feelings are further exacerbated by stereotypes and media images that often portray older people as technologically incompetent.

The authors emphasize that understanding these differences is crucial for developing effective approaches to digital inclusion. The study contributes to a better understanding of how various social, cultural, and personal factors influence the ways in which older adults use or avoid using the internet, either directly or with the help of others. 

You can read more about the study on internet use in later life at the link.



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