No country for older people? Age and the digital divide

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature on age and the digital divide by examining the uses of and attitudes toward information and communication technologies (ICTs) by 26 politically senior citizens.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach taken involved in‐depth face‐to‐face interviews.

Findings

The majority of the respondents are informed and balanced cyber‐enthusiasts who have embraced the opportunities afforded by ICTs to enhance their lives in general, including their political activities.

Originality/value

These findings destabilize the dominant image of older people and their attitudes to and experiences of ICTs that appears in most of the literature on age and the digital divide. Those aged 65 and over represent the last cohort, in Western societies at least, for whom age as such is likely to be a decisive factor in their relationship to ICTs. It is therefore vital to get some insight into their views.

Citation

Abbey, R. and Hyde, S. (2009), "No country for older people? Age and the digital divide", Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 225-242. https://doi.org/10.1108/14779960911004480