Is There a Barrier between Seniors and Smartphone Use in The Internet Age? A Study of Digital Disconnection among Older Adults

Abstract

With internet and smartphone usage increasing every year, seniors are being exposed to digital media, either actively or passively. To help the elderly better integrate into the information society, clarifing the causes of their digital disconnection and developing appropriate solutions is essential. In this study, semi-structured interviews are utilized to investigate the self-adjustment and external intervention of the elderly in the age of digital media and to explore the ways, causes, and effects of digital disconnection of the elderly. The focus issue of this study is to clear the subjective and objective factors of digital disconnection, especially cognitive problems, group influences, and technological access barriers in the elderly population concerning digital devices and the Internet.