Technology Use by Older Adults

As populations age and daily life grows increasingly dependent on digital infrastructure, understanding how older adults adopt and navigate technology has become a pressing concern for researchers across demography, public health, and design. Gerontechnology — the study of technology as it relates to aging — examines not only who uses the internet and why, but also how uneven access and usability shape social connectedness, health outcomes, and independence among people in later life. The digital divide among older adults is not simply a matter of hardware ownership; it reflects deeper inequalities tied to education, income, physical ability, and the often poor fit between mainstream product design and the needs of aging users. Researchers are actively working to understand whether inclusive design and targeted interventions can close these gaps, and whether technology genuinely reduces social isolation or merely shifts its form.

Works

45,121

Total citations

334,461

Keywords

Older AdultsTechnology UseInternetSocial IsolationDigital DivideGerontechnology