Social network penetration and usage amongst people over 64 years of age
Downloads
Abstract
The Internet and social networks, currently considered a generic asset for most social groups, have become increasingly popular as they are easy to use and help to create and maintain relationships. However, there are still some age groups in which the use of the Internet and social networks is still in its early stages. More specifically, we are referring to people over the age of 64, who are the most affected by the generational and digital gap when it comes to the use of new technologies. This study looks into the perceived level of Internet and social network penetration and knowledge within this segment of the population, in addition to identifying their usage habits and access barriers. To do that, we have carried out a cross-sectional ad-hoc survey through stratified, proportional sampling and probabilistic allocation to a group of 390 individuals registered in the municipality of Murcia. Survey results coincide with former studies these computational platforms amongst senior citizens. Results also show the interest of this age group to get training and information with the aim to start using them. Thus, public administrations need to address this situation by implementing policies intended to favor ICT integration into the daily lives of people over the age of 64.
Keywords
Digital communication, education and socialization, interactive tools, Internet, Seniors, Social Networking, ICT, Internet useDownloads
References
Agudo, S., Pascual, Mª Á., & Fombona, J. (2012). Use of digital tools amongst senior citizens (Original in Spanish). Comunicar, 39 (XX). 193-201. DOI: http:// dx.doi.org/10.3916/C39-2012-03-10.
Aunión, J. A. (2014). There are no children in the park (Original in Spanish). El País, 06-07- 2014. (http://goo.gl/b7uhm0) (14/10/14).
Campos Freire, Francisco (2014). Research and management of digital social networks (Original in Spanish). Panóptico 01, 7-51. La Laguna (Tenerife): La Laguna University. DOI: 10.4185/CAC 50
Cárdenas-Corredor, D. C., Melenge-Díaz, B., Pinilla, J., Carrillo-González, G. M., & Chaparro-Díaz, L. (2010). Social foundation of ICT usage for caretakers of people with chronic illnesses: a state of the art (Original in Spanish). Aquichan, 3 (10). 204-213. (http://goo.gl/MYa51w) (20/06/15).
Casado-Muñoz, R., Lezcano, F., & Rodríguez-Conde, M. J. (2015). Active aging and technology access: An evolutionary empirical study (Original in Spanish). Comunicar, 45 (XXIII). 37-46. DOI: http:// dx.doi.org/10.3916/C45-2015-04
Castellano Fuentes, C. L. (2014). The influence of social support in the emotional state and attitudes towards old age and aging in a sample of senior citizens (Original in Spanish). International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, 3 (14). 365-377. (http://goo.gl/ hWe95q) (27/07/15).
Regional Statistics Center of Murcia - CREM (2014). Municipal Register of Inhabitants (Original in Spanish). (http:// goo.gl/W3ZQDr men and http://goo.gl/ M5twh8, women) (28/3/15).
Chen, Y., Lee, B., & Kirk, R.M. (2013). Internet Use among Older Adults: Constraints and Opportunities. In R. Zheng, R. Hill & M. Gardner (Eds.). Engaging Older Adults with Modern Technology: Internet Use and Information Access Needs. (pp. 124-141). Hershey, PA: Information Science Reference. DOI: http:// dx.doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-1966-1. ch007
Chen, K., & Chan, A.H. (2014). Predictors of Gerontechnology Acceptance by Older Hong Kong Chinese. Technovation, 34(2), 126-135. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2013.09.010
Colombo, F., Aroldi, P., & Carlo, S. (2015). New senior citizens, new gaps: ICT, inequalities and wellbeing of senior citizens in Italy. Comunicar, 45 (XXIII). 47-55. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3916/ C45-2015-05
National Commission on Markets and Competition (2015). Characterization of some over-the-top- service uses in Spain (Electronic Communications and Audiovisual Services) (Original in Spanish). (http://goo.gl/ypRKbJ) (15/7/15)
Cristóbal-Fransi, E., Daries-Ramon, N., & Baldomar, J. P. (2014). Categorization of e-consumers: an applied study based on Internet usage prospects (Original in Spanish). Cuadernos de Gestión, 1 (14). 33-55. (http://goo.gl/Mfrt3h) (21/5/15)
Dillon, W., Madden, T., & Firtle, N. (1996). Market research in a marketing environment. Madrid: McGraw-Hill.
Fundación Telefónica (2011-2015). Information Society Report in Spain. (http:// goo.gl/IIy2EB) (18/4/15).
Fundación Vodafone España (2012). ICT: senior citizens connected to the future. Executive summary. (http://goo.gl/qHgcGb) (25/5/15).
Grande, I., & Abascal, E. (2011). Commercial research techniques and fundamentals (Original in Spanish). Madrid: ESIC.
González, A., Ramírez, M. P., & Viadel, V. (2012). Attitudes of the Elderly Toward Information and Communications Technologies. Educational Gerontology, 38 (9) (Original in Spanish). 585-594. DOI: 10.1080/03601277.2011.595314.
González-Oñate, C., Fanjul-Peyró, C., & Cabezuelo-Lorenzo, F. (2015). Use, consumption and knowledge of new technologies amongst senior citizens in France, Spain and the United Kingdom (Original in Spanish). Comunicar, 45 (XXIII). 19-28. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3916/C45-2015-02
Gracia, E., & Herrero, J. (2008). Digital gap and quality of life amongst senior citizens (Original in Spanish). Madrid: IMSERSO. (http://goo.gl/uZJkue) (15/5/15).
IMSERSO (2011). White book on Active Aging (Original in Spanish). Madrid: Imserso. (http://goo.gl/iKEwAa) (15/5/15).
INE (2014). Register. Population per municipalities (Original in Spanish); (http:// goo.gl/kMGhLX) (22/9/15).
INE (2014). Equipment and Use of Information and Communication Technologies in households (Original in Spanish). (http://goo.gl/xV0rvx) (21/4/15).
INTECO y AGDP (2009). Study on data privacy and information security in online social networks. National Institute for Communication Technologies and Spanish Agency of Data Protection (Original in Spanish). (https://goo.gl/QnYMC2) (18/3/15).
IAB Spain (2013, 2014). 4th and 5th yearly study on Social Networks (Original in Spanish). (http://goo.gl/gM9ExG) y (http://goo.gl/ZPGg15) (15/4/15).
Lelkes, Orsolya (2012). Happier and less isolated: internet use in old age. European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research. (http://goo.gl/mLmg9e) (15/3/15).
Llorente-Barroso, C., Viñarás-Abad, M., & Sánchez-Valle, M. (2015). Senior citizens and the Internet: The Net as a source of opportunities for active aging (Original in Spanish). Comunicar, 45 (XXIII). 29-36. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3916/ C45-2015-03
Luna-García, H., Mendoza-González, R., & Álvarez-Rodríguez, F. J. (2015). Design patterns intended to facilitate access and use of social applications amongst senior citizens (Original in Spanish). Comunicar, 45 (XXIII). 85-94. http://dx.doi. org/10.3916/C45-2015-09
Malhotra, N. (2004). Market research: an applied approach (4 Ed.) (Original in Spanish). Mexico: Prentice Hall.
Marketingdirecto.com (2014). Spain is the fourth most popular country in terms of WhatsApp usage (Original in Spanish). (http://goo.gl/zxPRLU) (15/5/15).
Observatorio Fundación Vodafone-CERMI (2011). Current status of accessibility to information and communication technologies (ICTs) Madrid (Original in Spanish): (http://goo.gl/DvBF82) (15/8/15).
ONTSI (2011). Social Networks in the Internet (Original in Spanish). (http://goo. gl/mH67dA) (2/7/15).
Padilla-Góngora, D., & Padilla-Clemente, A. M. (2008). Technologies for senior citizens (Original in Spanish). Universitas Psychologica, 3 (7). 883-894. (http:// goo.gl/2dS7ts) (28/07/15)
Pew Research Center (2015). Demographics of Key Social Networking Platfor
ms. (http://goo.gl/W4yVNN) (15/7/15).
• Peral-Peral, B., Arenas-Gaitán, R., & Villarejo-Ramos, A. F. (2015). From a digital gap to a psycho-digital gap: Senior citizens and social networks (Original in Spanish). Comunicar, 45 (XXIII). 57- 64. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3916/C45- 2015-06
• Red.es y Fundación Vodafone España (2014). Technologies oriented to mobility: assessment and trends (Original in Spanish). (http://goo.gl/faOM4L) (15/6/15).
• Sánchez, M., Kaplan, M. S., & Bradley, L. (2015). Using technology to interconnect generations: considerations on form and function (Original in Spanish). Comunicar, 45 (XXIII). 95-104. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3916/C45-2015-10
• The Cocktail Analysis y Arena (2014). VI Wave of the Social Network Observatory (Original in Spanish). (http://goo. gl/QalIV5) (13/5/15).