Technology adoption success is becoming increasingly significant to functional independence. In a hyper-connected world, social networks can favor active aging and there exists several factors that might affect the degree of digital media acceptance. However, in general, the older adults are less likely to use technology than younger adults since adopting it has its downsides. The rise of digital media tends to be a double-edged weapon among the older adults. This is because on one hand it gives them an individual voice but on the other hand leaves them open to unwanted attention and therefore, some may choose to use digital technologies while others may choose not to. Its impact on their attitudes and behavior is reflected in popular culture on television and websites.
Digital media acceptance.
Digital Technology Use in Old Adults
One of the reasons why older adults may choose not to use digital technology is due to the hurdles they face when adopting new technology. These include physical challenges to use of technology which comprise of health issues such as reading difficulties or disability or chronic disease that prevents them from participating fully in many daily activities. Dubious attitudes about the benefits of technology are another hurdle that older adults face as they feel that lack of use of technology does not hurt them. Besides, difficulties learning how to use new technologies are also a challenge in adopting new technology that may cause older adults to choose not to use digital technology. Only few would comfortably use a digital device without requiring assistance.
The three hurdles faced in adopting to new technology are partly influenced by the cognitive age of older adults due to the self-concept that they have of themselves. The image that advertising at times projects about them affects their self-concept which in turn influences their self-esteem and confidence in the capabilities that they have in adoption and use of digital technology. (Peral et al., 2015). Technology anxiety also influences the hurdles faced in adoption and use of digital technology which implies the anxiety produced by the computers themselves.
Anxiety induces negative impacts in an individual’s cognitive response and is the main determiner of adoption of the use of new technology a reason for older adults not to use digital technology. (Hong et al, 2013). Venturousness in the adoption of new technology is more individualized as it is influenced by an individual’s personality. This implies that the less venturous an individual is, the less one is likely to adopt new technology and that becomes a reason for choosing not to use digital technology and the degree of digital media acceptance.
The second reason as to why older adults may choose not to use digital technology is due to the negative attitude that the society has perpetuated and conveyed towards them. There are many stereotypes on television, cartoons, and movies suggesting that older people should not use technology. The majority of people portrayed in the media using technology are young energetic adults. This impacts on the social life of older adults and their use of digital technology as it affects their self –esteem and even makes them have more technology anxiety and they become less venturous (Peral, Arenas & Villarejo, 2015)
Conclusion
The rise of digital media tends to be a double-edged weapon among the older adults. One of the reasons why older adults are more likely to choose not to use digital technology is due to the hurdles they face in adopting new technology which is influenced by cognitive age that in turn impacts on their self-concept and the capabilities that they have. Technology anxiety and being less adventurous also makes adoption of new technology and digital media acceptance poor. The second reason is the negative attitude portrayed by the society about the use of digital technology by older adults insinuating that they should not use it since they are aged. This makes them choose not to use digital technology as the society is also against that.
References
Hong, S.J., Lui, C.S.M., Hahn, J., Moon, J.Y., & Kim. T.G. (2013). How Old Are You Really? Cognitive Age in Technology Acceptance. Decision Support Systems, 56, 122-130. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/ – 10.1016/j.dss.2013.05.008
Peral B., Arenas G.J., & Villarejo A., (2015) From Digital Divide to Psycho-digital Divide: Elders and Online Social Networks, Comunicar, published online 1st July 2015
