Impact of digital communication on age

Question 1

Who talks about the ‘digital generational divide’?

Answer 1

Boyle

Question 2

What does Boyle discuss about age and digital communication?

Answer 2

• Each generation becomes more reliant on digital communication, leading to a ‘digital generation divide’ between the old and young.
• Youths are more receptive to learn new skills demanded by new forms of technology.
• Youths place more importance on their peers and social networks.
• Parents also have more money, so they have more expensive devices which allows youths to use digital communication more often.
• Youths also have more free time and less responsibilities.

Question 3

Why are youths more suseptable to using digital communication?

Answer 3

• Youths are more receptive to explore and learn new skills demanded by new forms of technology and communication.
• Youths place more importance on their peers and social networks.
• Parents also have more money, so they have more expensive devices which allows youths to use digital communication more often.
• Youths also have more free time and less responsibilities.

Question 4

Who discusses households and the state pension?

Answer 4

Berry

Question 5

What does Berry say about the link between the state pension and internet access?

Answer 5

• 79% of households below the state pension age have internet access.
• 37% of households above the state pension age have internet access.

This shows the divide between those who enjoy access to the internet and those who are excluded.

Question 6

What % of households below the state pension age have internet access? (Berry)

Answer 6

79%

Question 7

What % of households above the state pension age have internet access? (Berry)

Answer 7

37%

Question 8

Why are older generations using digital communication more?

Answer 8

• People are becoming more aware of how much we need digital communication for work and jobs.
• People now have more money.
• People often use it for important things like online shopping, gaining news information, and contacting relatives.

Question 9

Who discusses the ‘psychological barriers’ and limitations preventing older generations from using digital communication?

Answer 9

Berry

Question 10

What does Berry say about what’s preventing older generations in using the internet?

Answer 10

• People who did not have the internet chose to due to lack of skills/interest instead of not being able to gain access.
• Found there were psychological barriers in preventing older people going online, which were more significant preventions than materialistic ones. (e.g., cost)
• Old people who use the internet do so less frequently than youths, though there has been content created to encourage older people to use the internet based on web design. (simple formats, large fonts)

Question 11

What sociologists discuss age and digital communication?

Answer 11

Berry
Boyle
Garside
Parkin

Question 12

What does Garside say about digital communication?

Answer 12

• The average 6 year old knows more about digital technology than the average 45 year old.
• Younger generations are shaping digital communication and thus have different habits to older generations.

Question 13

Who discusses how the average 6 year old knows more about digital tech than the average 45 year old?

Answer 13

Garside

Question 14

What Weberian sociologist discusses how tech links to social segregation?

Answer 14

Parkin

Question 15

What does Parkin say about the elderly?

Answer 15

Elderly could be kept out of high status groups due to social segregation through the media, employment, and living arrangements.