Navigating the Digital Divide: Exploring the Drivers, Drawbacks, and Prospects of Social Interaction Technologies' Adoption and Usage Among Older Adults During COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of social interaction technologies (SITs) in mitigating loneliness and social isolation, particularly among older adults. However, challenges such as the digital divide, physical and cognitive declines, and digital literacy gaps persist. This artic...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Aging Research |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jare/7625097 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850196558408056832 |
|---|---|
| author | Daniel Katey Sally Chivers |
| author_facet | Daniel Katey Sally Chivers |
| author_sort | Daniel Katey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of social interaction technologies (SITs) in mitigating loneliness and social isolation, particularly among older adults. However, challenges such as the digital divide, physical and cognitive declines, and digital literacy gaps persist. This article seeks to explore the drivers, drawbacks, and prospects of SITs’ adoption during the pandemic. The paper employs a narrative review approach, using targeted phrases and keywords, including “COVID-19 pandemic and digital engagement,” “digital technologies usage among older adults/people during COVID-19,” and “drivers of digital technologies adoption among older adults/people during COVID-19.” Articles were retrieved through Google Scholar searches conducted between October 2023 and December 2024. In line with key findings, we propose evidence-based recommendations, including user-centered digital communication technology design, the need to balance digital engagement with healthy physical activity, and personalized digital literacy programs, to enhance SITs’ accessibility and usability for older adults. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d1c67d2cb2224d4aab97bc8a9b1a8cb2 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2090-2212 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Aging Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-d1c67d2cb2224d4aab97bc8a9b1a8cb22025-08-20T02:13:26ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22122025-01-01202510.1155/jare/7625097Navigating the Digital Divide: Exploring the Drivers, Drawbacks, and Prospects of Social Interaction Technologies' Adoption and Usage Among Older Adults During COVID-19Daniel Katey0Sally Chivers1M.A. Program in Interdisciplinary Aging StudiesTrent Centre for Aging & SocietyThe COVID-19 pandemic underscored the critical role of social interaction technologies (SITs) in mitigating loneliness and social isolation, particularly among older adults. However, challenges such as the digital divide, physical and cognitive declines, and digital literacy gaps persist. This article seeks to explore the drivers, drawbacks, and prospects of SITs’ adoption during the pandemic. The paper employs a narrative review approach, using targeted phrases and keywords, including “COVID-19 pandemic and digital engagement,” “digital technologies usage among older adults/people during COVID-19,” and “drivers of digital technologies adoption among older adults/people during COVID-19.” Articles were retrieved through Google Scholar searches conducted between October 2023 and December 2024. In line with key findings, we propose evidence-based recommendations, including user-centered digital communication technology design, the need to balance digital engagement with healthy physical activity, and personalized digital literacy programs, to enhance SITs’ accessibility and usability for older adults.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jare/7625097 |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Katey Sally Chivers Navigating the Digital Divide: Exploring the Drivers, Drawbacks, and Prospects of Social Interaction Technologies' Adoption and Usage Among Older Adults During COVID-19 Journal of Aging Research |
| title | Navigating the Digital Divide: Exploring the Drivers, Drawbacks, and Prospects of Social Interaction Technologies' Adoption and Usage Among Older Adults During COVID-19 |
| title_full | Navigating the Digital Divide: Exploring the Drivers, Drawbacks, and Prospects of Social Interaction Technologies' Adoption and Usage Among Older Adults During COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Navigating the Digital Divide: Exploring the Drivers, Drawbacks, and Prospects of Social Interaction Technologies' Adoption and Usage Among Older Adults During COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Navigating the Digital Divide: Exploring the Drivers, Drawbacks, and Prospects of Social Interaction Technologies' Adoption and Usage Among Older Adults During COVID-19 |
| title_short | Navigating the Digital Divide: Exploring the Drivers, Drawbacks, and Prospects of Social Interaction Technologies' Adoption and Usage Among Older Adults During COVID-19 |
| title_sort | navigating the digital divide exploring the drivers drawbacks and prospects of social interaction technologies adoption and usage among older adults during covid 19 |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/jare/7625097 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielkatey navigatingthedigitaldivideexploringthedriversdrawbacksandprospectsofsocialinteractiontechnologiesadoptionandusageamongolderadultsduringcovid19 AT sallychivers navigatingthedigitaldivideexploringthedriversdrawbacksandprospectsofsocialinteractiontechnologiesadoptionandusageamongolderadultsduringcovid19 |