Research: Ageing, social capital and the Internet: Findings from an exploratory study of Australian ‘silver surfers’

Abstract

Policy development should be informed by better understanding of the potential and limitations of the Internet as a tool for generating and sustaining social capital in old age.

Information Provision for an Age-Friendly Community

“…For example, older people's use of telephones for informationseeking has increased, however some older people may have difficulty managing increasingly complicated telephone systems (Cawthra 1999). Use of the internet as a source of information has been found to decline rapidly with age even though older people are a fast-growing user group (Alpay et al 2004;Russell et al 2008). As well, internet use may be restricted by issues such as affordability of both equipment and internet connections; absence of broadband services; and lack of interest, familiarity and confidence in dealing with these technologies (Selwyn 2004;World Health Organization 2007).…”

Online and Offline Social Participation and Social Poverty Traps: Can Social Networks Save Human Relations?

“…In December 2010, U.S. Internet users were found to be more likely than others to be active in some kind of voluntary group or organization: 80% of American Internet users participated in groups, compared to 56% of non-Internet users. Moreover, social media users are even more likely to be active: 82% of social network users and 85% of SNSs have been claimed to support the strengthening of bonding and bridging social capital (Lee, 2013;Pénard & Poussing, 2010;Steinfield et al, 2008), children's social activities (Bauernschuster et al, 2011) and the social integration and well-being of the elderly (Näsi et al, 2012;Russel et al, 2008), to allow the crystallization of weak or latent ties that might otherwise remain ephemeral (Ellison et al, 2007;Haythornthwaite 2005), to help users to cope with social anxiety and negative moods associated with loneliness (Clayton et al, 2013;Grieve et al, 2013;Morahan-Martin & Schumaker, 2003), to support teenagers' self-esteem, encouraging them to relate to their peers (Ellison et al, 2011;Trepte & Reinecke, 2013), and to promote civic engagement and political participation (Campante et al, 2013;Gil de Zuniga, 2012;Kittilson & Dalton, 2011;Zhang et al, 2010 10 . 10 It is worth noting that part of the literature does not agree with the above reported claims about the beneficial effects of Internet-mediated interaction on social capital.…”

Silver Surfers Search for Gold: a Study Into the Online Information-Seeking Skills of Those Over Fifty

“…Although, as can be seen, literature pertaining to seniors and technology is plentiful, the vast majority focuses on ICT use overall (Hernandez-Encuentra et al 2009;Lugano 2009;Olson et al 2011;Russel et al 2008), the motivations inspiring such use (Chu 2010;Jun and Evans 2007;Perkinson 2013) and its associated benefits (Blaschke et al 2009;Dorin 2007;Kambouri et al 2006;Winstead et al 2013;Woodward et al 2011), rather than the internet specifically or search engine use. Exceptions can be found, including studies by Singer et al (2012) and Zaphiris et al (2007), but these do not seek to address training issues or advancing the skills of our senior surfers.…”

“…This may be attributed, at least in part, to a skill shortage experienced by many over fifty. Older adults are frequently reported as experiencing generic computer operational difficulties (Gust 2006;HernandezEncuentra et al 2009;Lugano 2009;Olson et al 2011;Russel et al 2008), which can then discourage their continued use and desire to attempt more challenging tasks, like searching the internet. Much of this difficulty has been categorised into two areas of skill shortage: poor manipulation of the hardware itself and unfamiliarity with technological terminology.…”