Busting the myth of older adults and technology: An in-depth examination of three outliers

Abstract

Background: A myth persists that seniors do not use the Internet, are ambivalent toward information and communication technologies (ICT’s), and that a technological divide exists between older and younger generations. Aims: To explore the role of ICT’s in the lives of seniors, in particular, those outliers who are thriving and fully engaged in the use of these technologies. Method(s): This study employed a quasi-ethnographic methodology. In-depth semi-structured interviews were held with research participants in an effort to capture their context-dependent lived experience and deeply explore the role of these technologies in their lives. Results: Four themes emerged from the analysis of the data: social connectivity; face-to-face contact remains; positive addiction; and back to the future. Conclusion: This research is an exploratory study and provides a glimpse into the level to which some older adults are engaged with ICT’s, in particular social media such as Facebook and videoconferencing technologies such as Facetime. The research findings are contrary to the persistent myth that seniors do not use these technologies.