TESTING THE ROLE OF CATEGORICAL AND RESOURCE INEQUALITIES IN INDIRECT INTERNET USES OF OLDER ADULTS: A PATH ANALYSIS

Autores/as

  • Marina Trkman Centre for Social Informatics, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
  • Bianca C. Reisdorf University of North Carolina at Charlotte
  • Jošt Bartol University of Ljubljana
  • Andraž Petrovčič University of Ljubljana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/spir.v2023i0.13505

Palabras clave:

digital inequalities, internet non-use, older adults, use-by-proxy, resources and appropriation theory

Resumen

Age-related digital inequalities have been one of the key aspects to understand and enable better ageing in the digitalized world. Although there is a large body of literature on direct forms and determinants of digital engagement among older internet users and non-users, only a few studies have focused on determinants of indirect internet uses among older non-users. To address this gap, this study investigates how the unequal distribution of resources among older non-users affects the availability and activation of supportive relationships, which enable them to ask other internet users to perform internet activities on their behalf—a practice known as use-by-proxy (UBP). Drawing on van Dijk’s (2005) resources and appropriation theory, we build a conceptual model with seven hypotheses. These hypotheses specify sequential pathways between categorical inequalities and differences in social and material resources as determinants of the heterogeneity of UBP availability and activation of networks. In turn, availability and activation affect the breadth of UBP engagement among older non-users. The model is tested on a representative survey sample of 241 respondents aged 65+ from Slovenia. Results from path analysis partly support the model and demonstrate the importance of investigating the sequential paths between social and age-related digital inequalities with respect to indirect forms of internet uses. The results also suggest that interventions aimed at supporting older non-users in their access to online services can be targeted at different levels, from addressing categorical and resource inequalities to providing UBP services.

Descargas

Publicado

2023-12-31

Cómo citar

Trkman, . M. ., Reisdorf, B. C., Bartol, J., & Petrovčič, A. (2023). TESTING THE ROLE OF CATEGORICAL AND RESOURCE INEQUALITIES IN INDIRECT INTERNET USES OF OLDER ADULTS: A PATH ANALYSIS. AoIR Selected Papers of Internet Research. https://doi.org/10.5210/spir.v2023i0.13505

Número

Sección

Papers T