Abstract
AbstractHaving access and skills to use social technology,i.e.social internet use, social media and social applications, are considered as being vital to online social connection. Whilst evidence exists around facilitators and barriers to general technology use, evidence is limited with regards to the motivators, skills and tangible offline benefits older technology users experience with social technology. Therefore, this study used a qualitative, exploratory method to understand older adults’ experiences of using social technology to connect with others. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 older adults (65+ years) across England, Scotland and Wales. Despite having access to social technology for social connection, and using this technology regularly, multiple barriers impacted motivators and skills for use, namely perceived self-efficacy and fear, the culture of online communication, absence of social capital and physical functioning. Some of these barriers of social technology use are reminiscent of barriers of wider technology use and emphasise the importance of addressing these barriers for digital exclusion, as well as social connection. However, some of these barriers were specific to social technology use and should be considered when providing guidance or interventions to increase older adults’ online social connection. Social connection was a clear tangible outcome to social technology use, and individuals discussed the benefits of using social technology, particularly visual communication tools, for online connection.
Highlights
With rapid technological change, the advent of smart mobile technology has resulted in digital devices, social media and the internet becoming commonplace for many
Facilitators and barriers of social technology use Perceived self-efficacy Despite all participants being users of digital devices and social media, many perceived themselves as being novices, and not being ‘technology minded’ (P005, female, 79 years)
This study involved older adults with existing access to digital devices for online social connection, and aimed to understand skills and usage, motivators and tangible outcomes of using digital devices and social media as tools to connect with others
Summary
The advent of smart mobile technology has resulted in digital devices, social media and the internet becoming commonplace for many. Motivations to achieve social connection through the use of ‘social technology’ (i.e. the online resources that allow individuals to connect with others; Nowland et al, 2018) can be related to feeling a sense of wider social inclusion (Winstead et al, 2013; Ferreira et al, 2016; Coelho et al, 2017; Tsai et al, 2019) This evidence has been contradictory, and for some, online social activity does not always equal ‘digital togetherness’ (Marino, 2015). Other studies found no relationship between technology use and levels of reported loneliness (White et al, 1999, 2002; Slegers et al, 2008; Burholt et al, 2020)
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