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From high connectivity to social isolation: communication practices of older adults in the digital age

Authors:

Azmina Karimi,

Carman NeustaedterAuthors Info & Claims

CSCW '12: Proceedings of the ACM 2012 conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work Companion

Pages 127 - 130

https://doi.org/10.1145/2141512.2141559

Published: 11 February 2012 Publication History

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Abstract

Few studies have shown how older adults cope with communication in an age of social media where many people are in constant contact with one another. To address this, we have studied the current living and communication practices of twelve older adults using in-depth interviews and home tours. Our findings illustrate a range of routines including a preference to stay away from new technologies; high degrees of connectivity and social media acceptance; withdrawal from heavy communication to explore newfound 'me' time; and, a lack of reciprocation in communication that caused a degree of isolation.

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Cited By

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Qian ZFu JZhou Y(2024)Gaining Technological Autonomy and Soci-emotional Support: A Case Study of How and Why Chinese Older Adults Engage with a Semi-acquaintance Online CommunityProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36869808:CSCW2(1-35)Online publication date: 8-Nov-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3686980
Xing YKelly RRogerson MWaycott JAslam K(2024)Designing for Inclusive Experiences: Investigating Opportunities for Supporting Older Adults in Community-based Social ProgramsProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3641892(1-20)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3641892
Xing YKelly RRogerson MWaycott J(2023)"Keeping the Program Going": Technology Use by Community Organizations to Support the Social Connectedness of Older Adults During the COVID-19 PandemicProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36100327:CSCW2(1-26)Online publication date: 4-Oct-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3610032
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Index Terms

From high connectivity to social isolation: communication practices of older adults in the digital age
1. Human-centered computing
  1. Collaborative and social computing
    1. Collaborative and social computing theory, concepts and paradigms
      1. Computer supported cooperative work
2. Social and professional topics
  1. Professional topics
    1. Computing and business
      1. Computer supported cooperative work

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Published In

CSCW '12: Proceedings of the ACM 2012 conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work Companion

February 2012

388 pages

ISBN:9781450310512

DOI:10.1145/2141512

General Chairs:
Steven Poltrock
Boeing Research & Technology
,
Carla Simone
University of Milano-Biccoca
,
Program Chairs:
Jonathan Grudin
Microsoft Research
,
Gloria Mark
University of California, Irvine
,
John Riedl
University of Minnesota

Permission to make digital or hard copies of part or all of this work for personal or classroom use is granted without fee provided that copies are not made or distributed for profit or commercial advantage and that copies bear this notice and the full citation on the first page. Copyrights for third-party components of this work must be honored. For all other uses, contact the Owner/Author.

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Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 11 February 2012

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CSCW '12

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SIGCHI

CSCW '12: Computer Supported Cooperative Work

February 11 - 15, 2012

Washington, Seattle, USA

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Overall Acceptance Rate 2,235 of 8,521 submissions, 26%

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CSCW '25

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October 18 - 22, 2025

Bergen , Norway

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Cited By

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Qian ZFu JZhou Y(2024)Gaining Technological Autonomy and Soci-emotional Support: A Case Study of How and Why Chinese Older Adults Engage with a Semi-acquaintance Online CommunityProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36869808:CSCW2(1-35)Online publication date: 8-Nov-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3686980
Xing YKelly RRogerson MWaycott JAslam K(2024)Designing for Inclusive Experiences: Investigating Opportunities for Supporting Older Adults in Community-based Social ProgramsProceedings of the 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3613904.3641892(1-20)Online publication date: 11-May-2024
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3613904.3641892
Xing YKelly RRogerson MWaycott J(2023)"Keeping the Program Going": Technology Use by Community Organizations to Support the Social Connectedness of Older Adults During the COVID-19 PandemicProceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction10.1145/36100327:CSCW2(1-26)Online publication date: 4-Oct-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3610032
Asadi YBrereton MAmbe ASoro AKholghi M(2023)Calming Down in Lockdown: Rethinking Technologies for a Slower Pace of LifeProceedings of the 2023 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference10.1145/3563657.3596060(1002-1014)Online publication date: 10-Jul-2023
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3563657.3596060
Loke SWünsche B(2022)Qualitative Insights into How Older People and Their Families Use Telecommunications during a Pandemic to Alleviate Social IsolationJournal of Intergenerational Relationships10.1080/15350770.2022.211395021:4(511-530)Online publication date: 18-Aug-2022
https://doi.org/10.1080/15350770.2022.2113950
Schwaninger ICarros FWeiss AWulf VFitzpatrick G(2022)Video connecting families and social robots: from ideas to practices putting technology to workUniversal Access in the Information Society10.1007/s10209-022-00901-y22:3(931-943)Online publication date: 30-Jul-2022
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1007/s10209-022-00901-y
Han MTan XLee RLee JMahendran R(2021)Impact of Social Media on Health-Related Outcomes Among Older Adults in Singapore: Qualitative StudyJMIR Aging10.2196/238264:1(e23826)Online publication date: 17-Feb-2021
https://doi.org/10.2196/23826
Richards OMarcu GBrewer R(2021)Hugs, Bible Study, and Speakeasies: Designing for Older Adults’ Multimodal ConnectednessProceedings of the 2021 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference10.1145/3461778.3462075(815-831)Online publication date: 28-Jun-2021
https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3461778.3462075
Gardner PSurlin SAkinyemi ARauchberg JMcArthur CHao YZheng RPapaioannou A(2021)Designing a Dementia-Informed, Accessible, Co-located Gaming Platform for Diverse Older Adults with Dementia, Family and CarersHuman Aspects of IT for the Aged Population. Supporting Everyday Life Activities10.1007/978-3-030-78111-8_4(58-77)Online publication date: 24-Jul-2021
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Jensen RColes-Kemp LWendt NLewis MBernhaupt RMueller FVerweij DAndres JMcGrenere JCockburn AAvellino IGoguey ABjørn PZhao SSamson BKocielnik R(2020)Digital Liminalities: Understanding Isolated Communities on the EdgeProceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems10.1145/3313831.3376137(1-14)Online publication date: 21-Apr-2020
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