What Older Adults Mean When They Say They Distrust Technology

What is it about?

This paper provides evidence against the theory that the reason older adults use digital technologies less than younger adults is because they don't trust them. The older adults we interviewed did speak about distrusting digital technologies, but this did not affect their decision to use or not use a technology. This paper explores what it means when older adults say they 'distrust' digital technologies, why they say they distrust it, and why it matters that they say they distrust it.

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Why is it important?

This paper helps us understand what is really stopping older adults from using digital technologies. It is not to do with unreasonable fears about their trustworthiness. Instead, it is about concerns they have about social impacts of technologies, which need to be addressed by designers if older adults are going to be willing to use them.