Digitally ‘not excluded’ seniors

Abstract

The article describes the ways and scope of using digital technologies by Polish seniors. Older people are commonly considered to be digitally excluded people, and thus have difficulties with using the Internet and the equipment that is used to connect to it. The article presents a selective review of research that seems to contradict the thesis on the digital exclusion of seniors. More and more often they are active visitors of the virtual world, they carry out a number of activities via the Internet and appreciate the benefits it brings them.
Seniors constitute a significant group both in Polish society and in the society of the entire European Union. Over the years, their percentage in relation to the general population will increase. To illustrate this fact, a significant part of the article describes the place of seniors in the demographic structure of Poland along with forecasts for the future in this area. The use of digital technologies by older people is described successively, especially with regard to the Internet and its devices. Possible reasons for the reluctance of older people to use IT technologies were analysed and exemplary government programs aimed at activating seniors in this area were described. Next, the results of research on the use of internet banking and online commerce by older people were presented, which showed that over the last decade their approach to these activities has changed significantly and they have become active participants in the online services market. Attention was drawn to the importance of the determinant of the age from which a given person can be considered a senior, as the results of the research differ significantly depending on whether the analysis covers people aged 60+ or 65+.
In conclusion, it was accepted that modern seniors should no longer be defined as digitally excluded, despite the fact that this stereotype is still common in society