From psychological to digital disengagement: exploring the link between ageism and the ‘grey digital divide’

Abstract

<p>The need for digital literacy is apparent in today’s workplace, driven by strong pressures for constant technological innovation. Previous studies have shown that although older workers make up (and will make up) a great proportion of the workforce, there persists an age-based digital divide in the workplace; and the outcome of such divide is quite negative: at the individual level, older workers feel they’re being marginalized and as such, become dissatisfied and disengage from their workplace; at the organizational level, a pool of skills and expertise is lost as a result of the older worker’s disengagement, putting at risk effective knowledge transfer and mentoring process. Hence, the importance of a deeper understanding of the contextual factors that may feed the <strong>‘</strong>grey digital divide<strong>’ </strong>in the workplace. The goal of this paper is to address such factors moving beyond the ageist claim that a worker’s chronological age is the driving force behind the <strong>‘</strong>grey digital divide<strong>’</strong>.</p>

Older Individuals and Digital Healthcare Platforms: Usage Motivations and the Impact of Age on Postadoption Usage Patterns

“…Testing and using new technology was dependent on the motivation to learn rather than chronological age, which confirms the findings of Lagacé [95]. Yet, it is something that is characteristic of some elderly people and can influence use.…”

“…Our findings add to the literature by illustrating that the elderly form a group with many within group variations. In this respect, we deepen knowledge on whether chronological age is a factor affecting usage-as discussed in Lagacé [95]-by highlighting the differences between patients aged 60 to 74 and 75 plus. This represents a challenge to prior literature [1], [2], [37], which has tended to view the elderly as a homogenous group.…”

Challenges and Strategies to Adapt the Provision of Support Services to Older Adults and Caregivers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Perspective of Community Organizations

“…This is particularly important since support services do not all have the same degree of adaptability to technology (e.g., respite care) or may not be accessible to older adults at greater risk of isolation, vulnerability, or marginalization (such as people with major cognitive or sensory disabilities or in precarious financial or social situations). At the same time, the participants in the present study recognized the critical need to improve older adults’ access to technological solutions (i.e., smart phones, tablets, computers) and support in using them, as well as to counter ageist stereotypes, which may exacerbate the existing digital divide (Lagacé, Charmarkeh, Zaky, & Firzly, 2016; Sawchuk, 2016; Seifert, 2020). While some issues and potential solutions to counter ageism were discussed by a few of the participants surveyed, it is important to document how the situation evolves in the next stages of the pandemic.…”

Elderly Forgotten? Digital Exclusion in the Information Age and the Rising Grey Digital Divide

“…9 The report further adds that dependency ratios during this era are expected to increase significantly. Elderly continue to be digitally-excluded in the current information age, 10,11 despite the mass diffusion of ICT across the planet. Choi et al 12 arrived at the conclusion that ageing has a strong association with decline in use of Internet.…”