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Digital Equality and the Uptake of Digital Applications among Seniors of Different Age

Digital Equality and the Uptake of Digital Applications among Seniors of Different Age AbstractAgeing societies are facing challenges from the perspective of the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). There is an increase in online services relevant for the economic, political, cultural and private life. Those who participate more fully in a digitally mediated social life enjoy advantages over their digitally disadvantaged counterparts. Today’s digital divide is not first and foremost between pensioners and others, but between younger and older pensioners. Scholars identify the need for longitudinal research among younger and older seniors to understand the differences between more or less advantaged users. Based on longitudinal, representative surveys, the present study finds that there is a clear gap between younger and older seniors, and that it is closing only very slowly. Age and level of education are powerful explanatory factors whereas generational belonging and social capital contribute only to a limited extent to the understanding of Internet uptake among older adults. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Nordicom Review de Gruyter

Digital Equality and the Uptake of Digital Applications among Seniors of Different Age

Bergström, Annika
Nordicom Review , Volume 38 (s1): 13 – Jun 27, 2017
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Publisher
de Gruyter
Copyright
© 2017 Annika Bergström, published by Sciendo
ISSN
2001-5119
eISSN
2001-5119
DOI
10.1515/nor-2017-0398
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

AbstractAgeing societies are facing challenges from the perspective of the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs). There is an increase in online services relevant for the economic, political, cultural and private life. Those who participate more fully in a digitally mediated social life enjoy advantages over their digitally disadvantaged counterparts. Today’s digital divide is not first and foremost between pensioners and others, but between younger and older pensioners. Scholars identify the need for longitudinal research among younger and older seniors to understand the differences between more or less advantaged users. Based on longitudinal, representative surveys, the present study finds that there is a clear gap between younger and older seniors, and that it is closing only very slowly. Age and level of education are powerful explanatory factors whereas generational belonging and social capital contribute only to a limited extent to the understanding of Internet uptake among older adults.

Journal

Nordicom Review – de Gruyter

Published: Jun 27, 2017

Keywords: Internet use; senior citizens; usage gap; digital divide; longitudinal surveys

References

  • Whose Space? Differences Among Users and Non-users of Social Network Sites
  • Den nationella SOM-undersökningen 2015
  • Computer, Internet, and E-mail Use among Older Adults: Benefits and Barriers
  • Analysis of Users and Non-users of Smartphone Applications
  • The Elderly’s Internet Usage: an Updated Look
  • Methods for Human-Computer Interaction Research with Older People
  • Den nationella SOM-undersökningen 2015
  • Internet Skills and the Digital Divide