Information Society for All? Structural Characteristics of Internet Use in 15 European Countries

Abstract

The article examines the patterns of Internet use in 15 European Union countries. In the theoretical part, it is discussed how the social scientists have addressed the consequences of the diffusion of the new information and communication technologies (ICT). It is asked whether there is a potential in the use of ICT for increasing social inequalities within and between the affluent societies. In the empirical part, it is examined whether the 15 European countries selected have qualitatively different patterns of Internet use from each other. Results from Eurobarometer 56.0 survey data collected in 2001 (N0/16,200) show that the basic socio-demographic factors explain the use of the Internet rather similarly in the then EU area. However, it is also revealed that the institutional differences between European countries affect the strengths of socio-demographic factors.

ICT activity in later life: Internet use and leisure activities amongst senior citizens in Finland

“…In addition, physical health usually deteriorates with age, narrowing the number of leisure opportunities for elders. It is also clear that age itself is interlocked with the Internet use frequency (Peacock and Künemund 2007;Räsänen 2006). Therefore, the sample population was decided between the ages 60-79 years.…”

Senior citizens and Internet technology

“…Both objectives are followed up by a European comparative empirical approach for the segment of the older population in order to substantiate our analytical findings by model replications. Within comparative European empirical research it has become common to differentiate between various welfare regimes (e.g., Ferrera 2000;Räsänen 2006). Following this approach, four types serve to establish a theoretically guided regional distinction within European countries (Euro15) used in our analyses: The Nordic, Continental, Liberal, and Mediterranean region.…”

Informacijos visuomenė: pamatinė sąvoka ar madingas raktažodis?

“…Iš čia kyla ir dar viena samprata -kad informacijos visuomenė yra specifinė visuomenės formacija, kurioje informacija yra reikšmingas išteklius. Šio ištekliaus prieinamumas siejamas su IKT prieinamumu fizinės prieigos, gebėjimų, motyvacijos pagrindu (van Dijk 2006;Bonfadelli 2002;Selwyn 2006;Räsänen 2006). Štai Bonfadelli (2002) informacijos visuomenę pristato kaip esamą visuomenės būklę, kurioje interneto teikiama informacija turėtų kurti geriau informuotą visuomenę, tačiau jo teikiama nauda paskirstoma netolygiai ir tai sukelia negatyvias socialines pasekmes.…”