A Study of Digital Disconnection Among Older Adults in the Internet Age

Abstract

With internet and smartphone usage increasing every year, seniors are being exposed to digital media, either actively or passively. To better integrate into the information society for the elderly, efforts are also needed to clarify the causes of their digital disconnection and develop appropriate solutions. 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 clarify 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.