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Socially Distanced or Socially Connected? Well-being through ICT Usage among the Indian Elderly during COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Trisha Bakshi
  • Asmita Bhattacharyya

Abstract

The ageing of the national population along with the rapid diffusion of technological innovations necessitate it to turn our attention to the significance of considering the adoption of technology by the Indian elderly. The impact of social distancing and the role of technology on the everyday lives of the older people during the pandemic remain under-researched. The public health crisis created by COVID-19 has deepened the roots of digital divide by digitally marginalizing older people especially in the developing nations who often lack awareness, access and training to use technology. This study captures the success stories, ordeals or challenges faced by the older people in coping with social distancing measures through the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Results of the qualitative in-depth interviews conducted on 30 professionals aged at least 60 years, residing in a metropolitan city in eastern India show that as the participants feel isolated, they reconfigure their traditional norms of face-to-face social interaction and rely upon their touchscreens and keyboards to continue everyday interaction, to work from home, access information and avail ‘essential services’. Apart from focusing on their impetus to adopt ICT, the study highlights the blocks in active usage of ICT namely attitudinal barriers, prior negative experience, concerns over cyber security, complicated technical instructions and lack of supportive learning environment. In order to create a technologically inclusive society for the older people, it is essential to cater to their unique needs and design elderly friendly technologies.

Suggested Citation

  • Trisha Bakshi & Asmita Bhattacharyya, 2021. "Socially Distanced or Socially Connected? Well-being through ICT Usage among the Indian Elderly during COVID-19," Millennial Asia, , vol. 12(2), pages 190-208, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:sae:millen:v:12:y:2021:i:2:p:190-208
    DOI: 10.1177/0976399621989910
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Ciesielska, Magdalena & Rizun, Nina & Chabik, Jakub, 2022. "Assessment of E-government inclusion policies toward seniors: A framework and case study," Telecommunications Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(7).
    2. Lili Li & Araz Taeihagh & Si Ying Tan, 2023. "A scoping review of the impacts of COVID-19 physical distancing measures on vulnerable population groups," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Shaifali Chauhan & Richa Banerjee & Vishal Dagar, 2023. "Analysis of Impulse Buying Behaviour of Consumer During COVID-19: An Empirical Study," Millennial Asia, , vol. 14(2), pages 278-299, June.
    4. Marta Borda & Natalia Grishchenko & Patrycja Kowalczyk-Rólczyńska, 2022. "Impact of Digital Inequality on the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence from European Union Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, March.
    5. Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis & Mauricio Blanco-Molina & Raúl Ortega-Moreno, 2022. "Aging in Place: Connections, Relationships, Social Participation and Social Support in the Face of Crisis Situations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.

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