Teaching older people internet skills to minimize grey digital divides. Developed and developing countries in focus
| Published date | 08 May 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JICES-06-2016-0022 |
| Pages | 165-178 |
| Date | 08 May 2017 |
| Author | Farooq Mubarak,Michael Nycyk |
Teaching older people internet
skills to minimize grey
digital divides
Developed and developing countries in focus
Farooq Mubarak
Department of Information Systems Science, Turku School of Economics,
University of Turku, Turku, Finland, and
Michael Nycyk
Department of Internet Studies, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
Abstract
Purpose –This paper aims to explore how olderpeople in developed and developing countries are affected
by the grey digitaldivide. It argues country type and cultureinfluence older people’s willingness to access and
learn internet skills. Using the knowledge from researchers informs policy, funding and delivery of
appropriateskilling to minimize this divide.
Design/methodology/approach –A systematic literature search using specific keywords to locate
digital divideresearch, specifically pertaining to older peopleacross country types.
Findings –Despite increasedinternet access and affordability, older people stillface challenges in learning
internet skills.Country type, economic challenges and culturalbeliefs need to be considered in minimizing the
grey divide. Governments recognize the importance of funding such teaching but evidence-based research
must continue to inform policy to maximize funding and solve the many physical age and cultural issues
affectingolder people’s access to internet skills learning.
Originality/value –This paper argues that research in developing countries into minimizing the grey
digital divide is a crucial undertaking. As the internet continues growing in developing countries, finding
solutions that consider culturaland age differences issues is crucial to the success of havinginternet literate
societiesthat have growing populations of older people seekingto use it.
Keywords Culture, Older people, Developed and developing countries, Grey digital divide,
Information and communication technologies (ICT), Internet education and skills
Paper type General review
Introduction
Minimizing and solving the digital divide has consistently preoccupied researchers. A
digital divide is officially defined as a gap that people, business and geographic areas have
when seeking opportunities to access and use informationand communication technologies
(ICT’s) and the internet for a wide range of activities (Organisation for Economic Co-
operation and Development, 2001). A specific variant is the grey digital divide which
identifies problems older people, usually,but not always, those aged over 65 years , have in
accessing and using the internet. The digital divide does not solely refer to disparities
between rich and poor peopleor countries but also to many other complex factors that affect
ICT use in developed and developing countries (Cruz-Jesus et al., 2012; Kyriakidou et al.,
Teaching older
people internet
skills
165
Journalof Information,
Communicationand Ethics in
Society
Vol.15 No. 2, 2017
pp. 165-178
© Emerald Publishing Limited
1477-996X
DOI 10.1108/JICES-06-2016-0022
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/1477-996X.htm
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