How are older adults currently using computers and the internet in canada?

  • 68% of those 65 years of age and older use the internet at least a few times a month

  • Among 65 to 74 year-olds, internet use rose from 65% to 80%

  • Among 75 year-olds and older, use rose from 35% to 50% in three years

  • About 90% of 15-to-34 year-olds own an internet-connected device, compared to 70% among those aged 55 to 64

  • About 20% of those over 75 have an internet-connected device

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in 2016, 22.6% of Canadian older adults did not own a device capable of connecting them to the internet

That number is shrinking as more older adults use and get access to computers and the internet

 What determines older adult internet usage?

  • Age is the main factor of internet use among older adults. Level of education and demographic background are also other factors

  • The gap in internet use between older adults and Canadians aged 45 to 54 declined from 49% to 28%

  • Within the older population, internet use steadily declined at older ages

  • This age gap will continue to decrease and more will use computers and have access to the internet

  • There is some evidence that older adults have limited motivation to use the internet. Sadly, some see it as a younger person’s domain and that it does not add many benefit for older adults to use

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From 2007 to 2016, internet use doubled from 32% to 68% among Canadians aged 65 and older

What barriers are keeping older adults from using the internet and new technologies?

  • Ageism is a factor that could be suppressing internet use among older adults. Some seniors are worried about using information and technology despite having access to it

  • Age-related stereotypes influence older adult internet use. This is because they impact how older adults see themselves and their skills

  • For example, some studies have shown that ageist stereotypes about older adult learning abilities can decrease their self-image. This tends to make them more hesitant and anxious to adopt new technologies

References

  1. Anderson, M., and A. Perrin. 2017. “Tech adoption climbs among older adults.” Pew Research Center Internet & Technology. Available at:b https://www.pewinternet.org/2017/05/07/techadoption-climbs-among-older-adults/ (accessed May 17, 2019). Attewell, P. 2001. “The first and second digital divides.”

  2. Sociology of Education 74 (3): 252–259. Charness, N., and W.R. Boot. 2009. “Aging and information technology use: Potential and barriers.” Current Directions in Psychological Science 18 (5): 253–258. CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission). 2011. Broadband Report: November 2011. 22 pages. Available at: https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/publications/reports/broadband/bbreport1111.pdf (accessed May 17, 2019).

  3. CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission). 2019. Communications Monitoring Report: 2018. 270 pages. Available at: https://crtc.gc.ca/pubs/cmr2018-en.pdf (accessed May 17, 2019).

  4. Dewan, S., and F.J. Riggins. 2005. “The digital divide: Current and future research directions.” Journal of the Association for Information Systems 6 (12): 298–337. Friemel, T.N. 2016. “The digital divide has grown old: Determinants of a digital divide among seniors.” New Media and Society 18 (2): 313–331.

  5. Gilleard, C., and P. Higgs. 2008. “Internet use and the digital divide in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.” European Journal of Ageing 5 (3): 233–239. Haight, M., A. Quan-Haase, and B.A. Corbett. 2014.

  6. “Revisiting the digital divide in Canada: The impact of demographic factors on access to the internet, level of online activity, and social networking site usage.” Information, Communication & Society 17 (4): 503–519. Lagacé, M., H. Houssein, J. Laplante, and A. Tanguay. 2015.

  7. “How ageism contributes to the second-level digital divide: The case of Canadian seniors.” Journal of Technologies and Human Usability 11 (4): 1–13. Millward, P. 2003.

  8. “The ‘grey digital divide’: Perception, exclusion, and barriers of access to the Internet for older people.” First Monday 8 (7).

  9. Morris, A., J. Goodman, and H. Brading. 2007. “Internet use and non-use: Views of older users.” Universal Access in the Information Society 6 (1): 43–57. Ofcom. 2017. Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes: Report 2017. 167 pages. Available at: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/102755/adults-media-use-attitudes2017.pdf (accessed May 17, 2019). Peacock, S.E., and H. Künemund. 2007.

  10. “Senior citizens and Internet technology.” European Journal of Ageing 4 (4): 191–200. Prensky, M. 2001. “Digital natives, digital immigrants.” On the Horizon 9 (5): 1–6. Analytical Studies — Research Paper Series - 19 - Statistics Canada — Catalogue no. 11F0019M, no. 427 Robinson, L., S.R. Cotten, H. Ono, A. Quan-Haase, G. Mesch, W. Chen, J. Schulz, T.M. Hale, and M.J. Stern. 2015.

  11. “Digital inequalities and why they matter.” Information, Communications & Society 18 (5): 569–582. Rogers, E. 2003. Diffusion of Innovations. Fifth edition. New York: The Free Press. Smith, A. 2014. “Older adults and technology use.” Pew Research Center Internet & Technology. Available at: https://pewinternet.org/2014/04/03/older-adults-amnd-technology-use/ (accessed May 17, 2019).

  12. Statistics Canada. n.d.a. General Social Survey – Family, Social Support and Retirement (GSS): Detailed information for 2007 (Cycle 21). Last updated October 24, 2007. Available at: http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&Id=30153 (accessed May 30, 2019).

  13. Statistics Canada. n.d.b. General Social Survey – Time Use (GSS): Detailed information for 2010 (Cycle 24). Last updated May 26, 2009. Available at: http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&Id=56441 (accessed May 30, 2019).

  14. Statistics Canada. n.d.c. General Social Survey – Social Identity (SI): Detailed information for 2013 (Cycle 27). Last updated December 22, 2014. Available at: http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=5024 (accessed May 30, 2019).

  15. Statistics Canada. n.d.d. General Social Survey – Canadians at Work and Home (GSS): Detailed information for 2016 (Cycle 30). Last updated November 10, 2017. Available at: http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p2SV.pl?Function=getSurvey&SDDS=5221 (accessed May 30, 2019).

  16. Van Deursen, A., and E. Helsper. 2015. “A nuanced understanding of Internet use and non-use among the elderly.” European Journal of Communication 30 (2): 171–187. Van Volkom, M., J.C. Stapley, and V. Amaturo. 2015.

  17. “Revisiting the digital divide: Generational differences in technology use in everyday life.” North American Journal of Psychology 16 (3): 557–574. Veenhof, B., and P. Timusk. 2009.

  18. “Online activities of Canadian boomers and seniors.” Canadian Social Trends 88: 25–32. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 11-008-X.