[Integration of the elderly into the information space: research case of Saint-Petersburg.]

In recent decades, the world's population has been aging due to the fact that life expectancy is increasing, and the birth rate in developed countries is falling below the level of simple reproduction. In many countries, people retire and move «down the social ladder», losing both their acquired status and income level. However, in the XXI century, a new kind of inequality has appeared - digital. Its starting point is the low digital literacy of the elderly, although at present the situation does not seem as dramatic as 12-15 years ago. In St. Petersburg, training for the elderly has been conducted since the beginning of the 2000s, both NGOs and CCSS, it is available and in most cases, free of charge, but, as our research highlighted in this article has shown, a significant part of the elderly still do not have digital skills. In general, in Russia, according to Rosstat, in 2020 there were only 13.5% active Internet users over the age of 60. The lack of integration into the digital space has come to be seen as evidence of the vulnerability of the elderly, especially during and after the CODID-19 pandemic. The paper presents the results of a three-component study, including an online survey of St. Petersburg residents about the use of city electronic services, as well as interviews with representatives of organizations that train older people in ICT skills and a pilot survey of the use of digital devices by older people - voice assistants. As a result, data were obtained on the demand for electronic communication channels and electronic urban services, as well as "access barriers" to mastering digital skills from the point of view of teachers of courses for the elderly. In conclusion, a conclusion is made about the relationship between mastering digital skills and the inclusion of the elderly in the communication space.