Adaptation of retired people to Internet environment

The article presents the results of qualitative sociological research of information and communication technologies influence on social behavior and lifestyle of older Internet users conducted by a multidisciplinary group of the Laboratory of social and economic behavior of The Institute of Social and Economic Studies of Population, The Russian Academy of Sciences. The study involved Internet users of retirement age from 56 to 89 years. The survey was conducted by in-depth interview. The main changes in the life of the Internet users of the older generation were revealed and main characteristics of the new digital techno style of life were determined: use of new forms of textual, visual and audiovisual communication for interaction; obtaining cultural knowledge and necessary information; buying goods and services and paying bills from home; extensive use of state services online; the gradual move away from print media; using “smart” things. The analysis of respondents ‘ communication showed that older people can be divided into three groups: those for whom communication has become predominantly electronic; those who persistently prefer live communication, and those for whom electronic communication is additional to live communication.

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