While older people’s overall digital engagement has grown over the years, about half of over 50s feel they are being left behind by modern technology, writes the author of an online article in The Conversation. Interviews with older New Zealanders suggested that for many, the rapid march of technology had helped build a wall rather than open doors. “Navigating online forms, changing apps, disappearing face to face services and the constant threat of scams can be daunting,” she writes. “The experiences of those we interviewed varied widely. Some used technology very little – perhaps just for texts or phone calls – while others relied upon it heavily for daily chores and work. One study participant spoke enthusiastically about using an AI assistant to support her creative writing.” But nearly all felt digital technologies were not designed with older people in mind, believing they were not viewed as a priority market by mainstream technology companies. This may suggest a problem of digital ageism: the assumption that older people use technology less because they are unable or unwilling to engage with it.”
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