Unsung helpers: older adults as a source of digital media support for their peers

Hunsaker, Amanda; Nguyen, Minh Hao; Fuchs, Jaelle; Karaoglu, Gökçe; Djukaric, Teodora; Hargittai, Eszter

doi:10.1080/10714421.2020.1829307

Cited by 33 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Our study helps to strengthen the emerging positive discourse that older users are security conscious, challenging dated stereotypes that this age group is not tech savvy [14]. Many older adults actually display high levels of awareness and ability in regard to cybersecurity [39][40][41].…”

Section: Human Behavior and Emerging Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 59%

“…Interventions to increase the salience and importance of physical device securement may be beneficial for this age group. Based on the existing literature, the most favoured and/or effective intervention approaches for older adults may be those involving in-person support and/or promoting these security behaviours through social connections, peer support, and family members [3,[41][42][43]. However, it is also important to note that a lack of device securement may be an active choice on behalf of some users and may not represent a lack of awareness.…”

Section: Human Behavior and Emerging Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour

Branley-Bell

Coventry

Dixon

et al. 2022

Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies

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Known age differences exist in relation to information and communication technology (ICT) use, attitudes, access, and literacy. Less is known about age differences in relation to cybersecurity risks and associated cybersecurity behaviours. Using an online survey, this study analyses data from 579 participants to investigate age differences across four key cybersecurity behaviours: device securement, password generation, proactive checking, and software updating. Significant age differences were found; however, this is not a straightforward relationship. Older users appear less likely to secure their devices compared to younger users; however, the reverse was found for the other behaviours, with older users appearing more likely to generate secure passwords and show proactive risk awareness and regularly install updates. Gender was not a significant predictor of security behaviour (although males scored higher for self-reported computer self-efficacy and general resilience). Self-efficacy was identified as a mediator between age and three of the cybersecurity behaviours (password generation, proactive checking, and updating). General resilience was also a significant mediator for device securement, password generation, and updating; however, resilience acted as a moderator for proactive checking. Implications of these findings are twofold: firstly, helping to guide the development of training and interventions tailored to different cybersecurity behaviours and secondly informing cybersecurity policy development.

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Section: Human Behavior and Emerging Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 59%

Section: Human Behavior and Emerging Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour

Branley-Bell

Coventry

Dixon

et al. 2022

Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The model argues that personal characteristics (age, education, gerontechnology self-efficacy and anxiety, and health deficiencies) and environmental facilitating supports (accessibility, assistance, and guidance) has more predictive value than attitudinal factors (usefulness and ease of use) for predicting gerontechnology usage behavior. Esther Hargittai and other scholars also find that people from disadvantaged backgrounds have lower internet skills than those from more privileged backgrounds [ 9 , 32 , 68 , 69 ]. Thus, the needs and abilities of older adults in digital system design must be taken into account to better promote their engagement with the digital world [ 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ].…”

Section: Theoretical Basismentioning

confidence: 96%

“…This phenomenon is not only a result of cultural tradition but also state policies that created barriers for internal migration [ 31 ]. Some studies suggest that family, peers [ 32 ], and intergenerational relationships [ 33 ] may play a more prominent role in bridging the digital divide for older adults. Moreover, schools can help motivate students/families to interact with their grandparents [ 34 , 35 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bridging the Digital Divide for Rural Older Adults by Family Intergenerational Learning: A Classroom Case in a Rural Primary School in China

Cheng

Lyu

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Rural older adults often feel disconnected from the ever-expanding digital world. To bridge the digital divide, researchers have investigated the effectiveness of formal education and training offered by various social institutions. However, existing research highlights a critical shortcoming in these approaches: a lack of attention paid to rural older adults’ individual needs and interests. Based on the theories of post-metaphorical culture, endogenous development, home-school cooperation, and technology adoption and acceptance, this study implements a family intergenerational learning (FIL) project. FIL characterizes learning between grandparents and grandchildren within the household, suggesting a more practical and individualized strategy to help rural older adults gain digital literacy. By conducting a three-month FIL Project in a rural primary school class in China, the study employs a qualitative method to analyze learning records and interviews from 10 sets of participating grandparents and grandchildren. The analysis renders two critical findings on the effectiveness of the FIL Project for rural older adults. First, FIL can help rural older adults adapt into the digital world by (1) gaining knowledge about digital society, (2) improving their digital skills, (3) changing their lifestyles, and (4) understanding the integration between technology and society. Second, among grandchildren, FIL can cultivate an awareness of lifelong learning and their moral obligations to their grandparents. By illustrating this specific case, this study puts forward a new approach to help the older adults overcome the digital divide in rural areas.

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“…Greater direct communication between digital service providers and communities can assuage mistrust. The NHS Widening Digital Participation Programme 49 trains ‘digital champions’ who are trusted community members and able to provide support to less confident members of the community group 50 . Similarly contact-tracing app developers can and have increased trust and uptake through public information campaigns to improve understanding and transparency in lay terms 51 .…”

Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A national survey assessing public readiness for digital health strategies against COVID-19 within the United Kingdom

Sounderajah

Clarke

Yalamanchili

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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There is concern that digital public health initiatives used in the management of COVID-19 may marginalise certain population groups. There is an overlap between the demographics of groups at risk of digital exclusion (older, lower social grade, low educational attainment and ethnic minorities) and those who are vulnerable to poorer health outcomes from SARS-CoV-2. In this national survey study (n = 2040), we assessed how the UK population; particularly these overlapping groups, reported their preparedness for digital health strategies. We report, with respect to using digital information to make health decisions, that those over 60 are less comfortable (net comfort: 57%) than those between 18 and 39 (net comfort: 78%) and lower social grades are less comfortable (net comfort: 63%) than higher social grades (net comfort: 75%). With respect to a preference for digital over non-digital sources in seeking COVID-19 health information, those over 60 (net preference: 21%) are less inclined than those between 18 and 39 (net preference: 60%) and those of low educational attainment (net preference: 30%) are less inclined than those of high educational attainment (net preference: 52%). Lastly, with respect to distinguishing reliable digital COVID-19 information, lower social grades (net confidence: 55%) are less confident than higher social grades (net confidence: 68%) and those of low educational attainment (net confidence: 51%) are less confident than those of high educational attainment (net confidence: 71%). All reported differences are statistically significant (p < 0.01) following multivariate regression modelling. This study suggests that digital public health approaches to COVID-19 have the potential to marginalise groups who are concurrently at risk of digital exclusion and poor health outcomes from SARS-CoV-2.

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Unsung helpers: older adults as a source of digital media support for their peers

Cited by 33 publications

References 42 publications

Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour

Exploring Age and Gender Differences in ICT Cybersecurity Behaviour

Bridging the Digital Divide for Rural Older Adults by Family Intergenerational Learning: A Classroom Case in a Rural Primary School in China

A national survey assessing public readiness for digital health strategies against COVID-19 within the United Kingdom

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