Digital Inclusion and Ageism in Narratives of Age and Technology

Accessing government services, shopping, maintaining social connections, most of these activities have transitioned partially or completely to a digital format. This has influenced a transformation of the life world of older adults, in which the ability to work with digital technology has become essential for full and complete participation in society. The influence of digital technology use on the construction of the ageing identity has received relatively little attention, especially when it is viewed from the perspective of the digital included older adult. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate how older adults use their digital technology to make sense of their ageing process.

A thematic analysis of 37 semi-structured interviews with Belgian older users found that they use digital inclusion tropes as a narrative device in their construction of their ageing experience. It shows that digital technology skills can be used to construct and transform their understanding of their life world. The sense-making itself often involves positioning their place within a digital society in opposition to those without digital skills. This results in a unique new form of ageism aimed towards those not skilled in digital technology use. The implication here is that digital technology and older adults create a new social ageing world that is only accessible for those with the correct skills. The influence of digital technology on ageing and especially on the social world of ageing needs to be better understood to ensure that no one is left behind.