When the Ageing Society “E ncounter s the Information Society: Internet Risks for the Elderly in Taiwan

Chih-Kun Huang; Pai-Lin Lee

doi:10.31686/ijier.vol4.iss3.521

Authors

Chih-Kun Huang Meiho University, Taiwan
Pai-Lin Lee National Kaohsiung Normal University, Taiwan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol4.iss3.521

Keywords:

Elderly, Internet surfing, Internet risk, Delphi method

Abstract

Objective: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) suggested that older people having the capacity to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a vital indicator of active aging. This study aimed to explore the scope and the worries of Internet risks for elderly people. Method: The Delphi method and survey questionnaires were used in this study. Using the Delphi method, 15 experts were invited to write in three rounds of correspondence and reach an agreement on the scope of Internet risks for the elderly. A total of 1,021 respondents aged over 55 completed questionnaires. Results: The results revealed: (1) Internet risks for the elderly included four dimensions: financial, performance, psychosocial, and physical. (2) The elderly tend to worry about Internet risks, and are most worried about financial risks, followed by physical risks. (3) The seniors with older age, low levels of education, less than one year of Internet experience, and no online shopping experience are the most fearful of Internet risks. Conclusion: We suggest that Internet risk coping strategies is helpful for reducing internet fear, and should be incorporated into the computer curriculum for the old internet beginner, so that they can enjoy the Internet and aging actively.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Chih-Kun Huang, Meiho University, Taiwan

Department of Social Work
Pai-Lin Lee, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Taiwan

Graduate Institute of Adult Education

References

Agatston, P. W., Kowalski, R.,& Limber, S. (2007). Students' Perspectives on Cyber Bullying. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41, S59-S60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.09.003

Bettman, J. (1973). Perceived risk and its components a model and empirical test. Journal of Marketing Research, 10, 184-90. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/002224377301000209

Blit-Cohen, E.,& Litwin, H. (2004). Elder participation in cyberspace: A qualitative analysis of Israeli retirees Journal of Aging Studies, 18 (4), 385-398. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaging.2004.06.007

Campbell, RJ, Nolfi ,DA. (2005). Teaching Elderly Adults to Use the Internet to Access Health Care DOI: https://doi.org/10.2196/jmir.7.2.e19

Information: Before After Study. J Med Internet Res ,7 ( 2):e19( DOI: 10.2196/jmir.7.2.

Cortner, D. M. (2006). Stages of Internet adoption in preventiv e health: An exploratory diffusion

study of a community based learning venue for 50+ year old adults . Doctoral Dissertation, Capella

University. (DAI Vol 67 01, Section: A, page: 0107).

Dowell, E., Burgess, A., & Cavanaugh, D. (2009). Clustering of Inte rnet risk behaviors in a middle DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.2009.00447.x

school student population. Journal Of School Health 79 (11), 547 553 7p.

doi:10.1111/j.1746 1561.2009.00447.x.

Duay, D. L. (2007). In their own words: older adults’ perception of effective and ineffective learning

experiences . Doctoral Dissertation, Car los Albizu University (DAI Vol 68 03, Section: A, page:

.

Fox, S. (2004). Older Americans and the Internet Available at:

http://www.pewinternet.org/2004/03/28/older americans and the internet/

Gatto , S. L. & Tak, S. H. (2008). Computer, Internet, and E-mail Use Among Older Adults: Benefits and Barriers, Educational Gerontology, 34(9), 800-811. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03601270802243697

Girdner, L. D. (2003). Adult learning on the Internet: Engaging the Senior Net process . Doctoral

D issertation, Oklahoma State University(DAI Vol 65 03, Section: A, page: 0900).

Graham, G. ( The Internet: A Philosophical Inquiry . London: Routledge.

Hansson, S. O. (2002). Uncertainties in the knowledge society. In Paul A. David & Dominique DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-2451.00357

Foray (Eds) (2002). International Social Science Journal, Special Issue: The Knowledge Society ,

46. Oxford: Blackwell.

Hill, R., Beynon Davies, P., & Williams, M. D. (2008). Older people and In ternet engagement: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/09593840810896019

acknowledging social moderators of Internet adoption, access and use, Information Technology &

People 21 ( 3), 244 266.

Huang, C.K.(2009). The construction on friendly Internet environment for older adults in an informational society, Journal of Adult and Lifelong Education Education, 13, 107 148.[15] Jacoby, L. L., Bishara, A. J., Hessels, S.,& Toth, J. P. (2005). Aging, Subjective Experience, and

Cognitive Control: Dramatic False Remembering by Older Adults. Journal of Experimental

Psychology : General , 134 (2),131 148.

Jaishankar, K., Shariff, S.& Ramdoss, S. (2008). Pedophilia, Pornography, and Stalking:Analyzing Child Victimization on the Internet. In F. Schmallenger, & Pittaro, M.(pp. 28-42): Prentice Hall.

Joseph, N.,& Stone, B. (2005). Diagnosis: Internet phobia. Newsweek, 145( 17), p74.

Karavidas, M. K. (2003). The effects of computer usage on the retired older adult population .

Doctoral Dissertation, Carlos Albizu University (DAI Vol 64 08, Section: B, page: 4076).

Kaplan, L. B., Szybillo, G. J., & Jacoby, J. (1974). Components of perceived risk in product purchase: A cross-validation. Journal of Applied Psychology, 59(3), 287291. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1037/h0036657

Kowalski, R. M., Limber, S. P., & Agatston, P. W. (2007). Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age. Malden, MA: Blackwell DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470694176

Lahtiranta, J.,& Kimppa, K. K. (2006). Elderly People and Emerging Threats of the Internet and New Media. I3E 2006 conference, the sixth IFIP conference on e-Commerce, e-Business, and e-Government, October 11-13, 2006, Turku, Finland (Outstanding Paper Award). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-39229-5_2

Liebermann, Y.& Stashevsky, S. (2002). Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 5( 4), 291-300. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/13522750210443245

Livingstone, S., Couvering, E. V.& Thumim, N. ( Adult Media Literacy, Retrieved Jan 11,

, from http://www.ofcom.org.uk/find_document/

Mills, R.E. (2005). The experience of learning computer skills for low income African American

and Hispanic seniors . Doctoral Dissertation, Walden University (DAI Vol 66 04, Section: A, page:

.

Mukherjee, D. (2010). Participation of Older Adults in Virtual Volunteering: A Qualitative Analysis. Ageing InternationalInternational, 36, 253-266. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-010-9088-6

National development council( 2014). person/family digital opportunity survey report in 2014. Available at: http://ws.ndc.gov.tw/001/administrator/10/relfile/0/1000/1-1.103reoprt.pdf.

Pew Research Center( 2014). Older Adults and Technology Use. Available at: http://www.pewInternet.org/2014/04/03/older-adults-and-technology-use/.

Reisenwitz, T., Iyer, R., Kuhlmeier, D., & Eastman, J. (2007). The elderly’s Internet usage: An updated look. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 24(7), 406-418. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/07363760710834825

Rideout, V., Neuman, T., Kitchman, M., & Brodie, M. (2005). E-Health and the elderly: How seniors use the Internet for health information. Menlo Park, CA: Kaiser.

Shapira, N., Barak, A., Gal, I. (2007). Promoting older adults’s well-being through Internet training and use. Aging& Mental health, 11(5), 477-84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13607860601086546

Stone, R.N.,& Gronhaug, K. (1993). Perceived Risk: Further Considerations for the Marketing Discipline, European Journal of Marketing ,27(3), 372-94. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/03090569310026637

Watts, T.B. (2003). An exploratory study of computer utilization by senior citizens to obtain health

i nformation . Doctoral Dissertation, University of New Mexico(DAI A 64/03, p. 815, Sep 2003).

Xie, B. (2006). Growing older in the Information Age: Civic engagement, social relationships, and

well being among older Internet users in China and the United S tates . Doctoral Dissertation,

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute(DAI Vol 67 05, Section: A, page: 1575).