Age and Digital Communication

Ofcom Report (2014)

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argues that with each successive generation, the greater the reliance on and use of digital communication
Digital Generation Divide - the gap between the young and the old in likeliness in using digital communication
argues the generational divide is not particular to digital communication, but seen in media in general, such as music and art
argues younger people are more receptive to learning new skills as demanded by technology
digital communication is increasing in the young people due to the cost of raising a child. Parents now have more money to spend meaning children are receving the lastest technology. Also, it increases due to younger individuals having less responsibilities, such as jobs and caring responsibilities, meaning they have more free time on their hands
children are also keen to use new forms of digital communication to develop and express their emerging identities

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focuses on the way older people use the internet
those who do not have access to the internet, most of them cite non-material reasons such as lack of skills or lack of interest to explain why they are not online
other research has highlighted the psychological barriers preventing older people from accessing the web
these reasons appear to be more significant than material factors, such as cost or lack of physical infrastructure
only 59% of older users access the internet everyday (65 and over)
there has been content designed to encourage older people to use it e.g.Finerday - social network designed for older people, with high contrast colours, large font and a simple format

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79% of households below the state pension age have internet access
37% of households above state pension age do not have internet access
Berry (2001) argues this gives notions to the digital divide to those who enjoy the internet and those excluded from it

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