Heterogeneity of traditional and digital media use among older adults : A six-country comparison

Abstract

The concept of aged heterogeneity has been associated with older adults' ability to adapt to the digital age without a systematic empirical analysis. We analyse retired adults' (aged 62 or more) use of traditional media and their digital equivalents in six countries. First, we ask whether heterogeneity in traditional and digital media use increases with age. Second, we study to what extent gender is related to this heterogeneity, and third, the country differences in the heterogeneity of media use in later life. We analyse the 2018 data (N = 5865) of the ‘Older audiences in the digital media environment’ survey using zero-inflated negative binomial models. The results provide partial support for aged heterogeneity in connection to digital media use. Gender differences were small and stable across cohorts, except in reading printed books, which increased with age among women. Country differences in the adoption and use of traditional and digital media were large.