A review of Internet use among older adults
Open accessAbstract
As the world population ages and older adults comprise a growing proportion of current and potential Internet users, understanding the state of Internet use among older adults as well as the ways their use has evolved may clarify how best to support digital media use within this population. This article synthesizes the quantitative literature on Internet use among older adults, including trends in access, skills, and types of use, while exploring social inequalities in relation to each domain. We also review work on the relationship between health and Internet use, particularly relevant for older adults. We close with specific recommendations for future work, including a call for studies better representing the diversity of older adulthood and greater standardization of question design.
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The proportion of older adults using the internet is continuously increasing.
“With an continuously increasing proportion of older adults using the internet (Hunsaker and Hargittai, 2018)”
From Feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of an internet-based CBT intervention for loneliness in older adults: A pilot RCT (2024) · cites this paper as Hunsaker and Hargittai, 2018
The proportion of older adults who successfully use the internet is steadily increasing.
“As the proportion of older adults who successfully use the internet is steadily increasing [58], web-based psychological interventions seem feasible for this age group.”
Studies have demonstrated socioeconomic disparities in internet use in older adults-higher education and income levels have been linked to more (successful) internet usage in later life.
“However, it is important to note that studies have demonstrated socioeconomic disparities in internet use in older adults—higher education and income levels have been linked to more (successful) internet usage in later life [58].”
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- Authors
- Hunsaker, A., & Hargittai, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Zurich (CH)
- Corresponding author
- Hargittai, Eszter
- Venue
- New Media & Society
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2018-07-16
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 3937-3954
- ISSN
- 1461-4448 (ISSN-L)
- 1461-7315
- OpenAlex
- W2884702161
- Cited by
- 770
- References
- 65
- Citations by year
- 2026: 95 · 2025: 128 · 2024: 110 · 2023: 110 · 2022: 118 · 2021: 104 · 2020: 73 · 2019: 28 · 2018: 2
- FWCI
- 106.64
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Locations
- New Media & Society (publishedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (acceptedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich) (submittedVersion)
- Zurich Open Repository and Archive (University of Zurich)
- Funders
- University of Pittsburgh
- Universität Zürich
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Technology Use by Older Adults
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Aging, Elder Care, and Social Issues
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
- Keywords
- older adults, internet use, digital divide, digital skills, social inequality, population aging, digital media use
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