Digital Inclusion in Old Age in Lithuania: Multiple Inequalities?

Abstract

Older adults in Lithuania are among the least technologically skilled compared to other social groups in the country and older adults in other countries. In this paper, we aim to investigate socio-demographic factors that facilitate digital inclusion in old age in Lithuania. We employ quantitative research methods and the data of the European Social Survey. We determined six significant factors of digital inclusion in old age: age, education, place of residence, economic activity, health, and Internet access at home. Considering all the factors of Internet use, we observe that older Internet users tend to be more privileged than non-users. They tend to be younger, have the highest education, live in urbanised areas, are employed, have access to the Internet at home, and have better health. Consequently, digital exclusion deepens the current cultural, social and economic exclusion of some older adults.