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Coming of (Old) Age in the Digital Age: ICT Usage and Non-Usage among Older Adults

Author

Listed:
  • Barbara Barbosa Neves
  • Fausto Amaro
  • Jaime R. S. Fonseca

Abstract

Most developed countries are in the midst of two significant societal trends: the first is an aging population; the second is the uptake of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) by large segments of society. But research shows a strong association between age and the so-called digital divide: older adults are less likely to use ICT when compared to other age groups. If we consider the social affordances of the Internet and the online migration of several public and private services, the lack of access or of digital literacy might be increasing age-related inequality. Consequently, we studied adoption, usage, and non-usage of ICT (mobile phones, computers, and the Internet) by Portuguese older adults. For that, we surveyed a random stratified sample of 500 individuals over 64 years of age living in Lisbon. Of this sample, 77% owned a mobile phone, 13% used computers, and 10% used the Internet. The main reasons for non-usage were functional and attitudinal, rather than physical or associated with age. But usage of mobile phones and computers was predicted by age and education, whereas the usage of the Internet was only predicted by education. We followed up the survey with 10 qualitative interviews, using a mixed methods strategy. The qualitative data showed a general positive perception of ICT as well as the importance of family and intergenerational relationships for technology adoption and use.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbara Barbosa Neves & Fausto Amaro & Jaime R. S. Fonseca, 2013. "Coming of (Old) Age in the Digital Age: ICT Usage and Non-Usage among Older Adults," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 18(2), pages 22-35, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:socres:v:18:y:2013:i:2:p:22-35
    DOI: 10.5153/sro.2998
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    Cited by:

    1. Keisuke Kokubun & Toshimi Ogawa & Ryan Browne & Takamitsu Shinada & Lorenz Granrath & Johanna Moeller & Nhu Tram & Rainer Wieching & Yasuyuki Taki, 2022. "Social Capital Mediates the Association between the ICT Usage and Well-Being of Older People in Japan: Implication for a New Design Paradigm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-20, March.
    2. José Álvarez-García & Amador Durán-Sánchez & María de la Cruz del Río-Rama & Ronny Correa-Quezada, 2019. "Older Adults and Digital Society: Scientific Coverage," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Vera Gallistl & Rebekka Rohner & Alexander Seifert & Anna Wanka, 2020. "Configuring the Older Non-User: Between Research, Policy and Practice of Digital Exclusion," Social Inclusion, Cogitatio Press, vol. 8(2), pages 233-243.
    4. He, Yuan & Li, Ke & Wang, Yipan, 2022. "Crossing the digital divide: The impact of the digital economy on elderly individuals’ consumption upgrade in China," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    5. Tore Bonsaksen & Mariyana Schoultz & Hilde Thygesen & Mary Ruffolo & Daicia Price & Janni Leung & Amy Østertun Geirdal, 2021. "Loneliness and Its Associated Factors Nine Months after the COVID-19 Outbreak: A Cross-National Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-11, March.
    6. Tirado-Morueta, Ramón & Aguaded-Gómez, José Ignacio & Hernando-Gómez, Ángel, 2018. "The socio-demographic divide in Internet usage moderated by digital literacy support," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 47-55.
    7. Ching-Ju Chiu, 2019. "Relationship Between Internet Behaviors and Social Engagement in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-13, January.
    8. Hao Cheng & Keyi Lyu & Jiacheng Li & Hoiyan Shiu, 2021. "Bridging the Digital Divide for Rural Older Adults by Family Intergenerational Learning: A Classroom Case in a Rural Primary School in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-16, December.

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