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The rise of the 'silver surfer' : online social networking and social inclusion for older adults

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posted on 2012-01-01, 00:00 authored by C Doyle, Sophie GoldingaySophie Goldingay
As the proportion of older adults continues to grow in many Western countries, there are increasing concerns about how to meet their needs. Ensuring social connectedness and inclusion is one way to support older adults’ wellbeing. Online social networking has become common place amongst younger age groups, suggesting its possible usefulness for older adults, in order to combat isolation and loneliness. Some quantitative studies have already explored the amount and degree of online social networking amongst older adults. To add further understanding of how older adults experience social inclusion via the internet, the current qualitative study aimed to explore older adults’ subjective experience of online social networking. Findings demonstrated a number of supports and barriers to social inclusion which reflect barriers to social inclusion of older adults in the non-virtual world. Recommendations to support social inclusion of isolated older adults via online social networking are suggested.

History

Journal

Journal of social inclusion

Volume

3

Pagination

40 - 54

Location

Meadowbrook, Qld.

Open access

  • Yes

ISSN

1836-8808

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2012, Griffith University, School of Human Services and Social Work

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