The divide within: Older active ICT users position themselves against different 'Others'.

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Digital Sociology
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Research on older adults' internet use is growing, but their understanding of digital technologies through the lens of aging is underexplored.
• Existing studies often view old age as a life-course stage rather than a theoretical lens for understanding technology engagement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how older adults' understanding of aging influences their engagement with digital technologies.
• To investigate how older adults position themselves as 'active users' in relation to technology.

Main Methods:

• Focus group interviews were conducted with 30 older adults aged 66-89.
• Positioning theory was applied to analyze participants' self-positioning and discursive strategies.

Main Results:

• Older adults actively use their social position of 'old age' to make sense of their technology engagement.
• Participants discursively positioned themselves as 'active older users,' differentiating themselves from younger and older non-users.

Conclusions:

• The social position of old age is a significant factor in how older adults understand and engage with digital technologies.
• Older adults actively construct their identities as users, creating distinctions within the digital landscape.