Digital competences of older women in Turkey: gender and ageing as double danger

Abstract

The Internet is a massive technological breakthrough in terms of interpersonal communication and social connectivity, facilitating citizenship practices of societies of modern life; yet its potential in the inclusion and empowerment of older adults is hampered by low levels of technology usage and often limited digital competences. Many older adults remain relatively distant from modern digital life, further isolated from society and daily public services. Older adults are considered disadvantaged, tend to live dependent upon others, and occasionally deprived of human and social capital. This divide has been more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly for older women. Promoting specific actions to improve digital competences can contribute to digital inclusion, particularly for disadvantaged segments of society. This study presents findings from a field research conducted to determine the digital competence levels of older women living in southwest Turkey as part of a nationally funded project. Field notes and survey data collected from 377 older women revealed that digital competence may improve through education, that challenges included dependency, safety/fear, and stoicism, and that any support, social interaction, or training offered to older adults could help them to improve their digital competences and self-confidence for daily survival in the digital age, enabling more independent and self-sufficient living in their later years. Future directions include social connectedness and intergenerational interaction for digital competence, lifelong learning activities and training programmes on digital skills and ICT usage for older adults, and improved designs of digital products to prevent their exclusion from today’s technology-dominated society.