Mitigating the digital suffering: bolstering the digital literacy of older adults and contributing to a more inclusive society

Kar, A., Kizir, E., Bozdag, E. F. and Kamasak, R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8768-3569 (2025) Mitigating the digital suffering: bolstering the digital literacy of older adults and contributing to a more inclusive society. In: Siyal, S. (ed.) Impact of Digitalization on Education and Social Sustainability. IGI Global, pp. 131-154. ISBN 9798369318546 doi: 10.4018/979-8-3693-1854-6.ch005

Abstract/Summary

Digital literacy, a critical factor in enhancing social well-being, is pivotal in every individual's life. Digital literacy competency varies in different age groups, and this difference has been more observable during the COVID-19 pandemic. The older adults who were more vulnerable to the effects of the pandemic, mainly remained isolated from society due to prolonged lockdowns. This isolation made them more dependent on a digital life to be able to continue their life courses. However, particularly the ones from lower income and education groups felt more suffering emerged from the lack of digital skills. Drawing on the technology acceptance model, we explicate the impact of a socially responsible project conducted on a sample of 65+ older adults on enhancing their digital skills. The learning and emotional effects of the ten-week training were analysed, and several outcomes were reported. While the training notably enhanced the participants' digital literacy competencies, it had minimal effect on their emotional outcomes.