The unsung power of horizontal grassroots

Abstract

Technology corporations such as Google and Facebook are investing billions of dollars to provide internet access for people in remote areas on the African continent via WLAN drones. But even in Western society there are blank spots on the network map. The respective countries and economies should do something about this. This essay researches how digital media use influences the lives of marginalized groups in Germany and other countries. The focus is on media use of elderly people. Various projects and models are introduced which are used by government agencies and private initiatives in order to measure and improve the digital competence of this population section. By analyzing online user data and reviewing various other studies, the goal is to define how elderly users utilize digital media and what kind of benefits they derive from it. Further, it should be analyzed if the communication space deserves the stamp of being "barrier free". Is there sufficient accessibility and clarity that even marginalized groups like seniors can fully use the opportunities that new media offers?