Research Article

From pandemic to post-pandemic: Understanding the digital platform usage experiences of older people

Number: 66 July 12, 2024
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From pandemic to post-pandemic: Understanding the digital platform usage experiences of older people

Abstract

The social isolation experienced during the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period has transformed the daily life practices of individuals of all ages and increased their integration into digital platforms. The adoption of digital technologies by elderly users has accelerated, and the digital environment has assumed an important role in meeting various physical and social needs. Although the mandatory physical isolation after the pandemic period has been replaced by measures taken based on individual preference, it is evident that elderly individuals have become much more active users of digital platforms than before. Based on this understanding, this study aims to make visible how individuals aged 65 and over make sense of their digital platform usage experiences in this new period, also called post-pandemic. A phenomenological approach was adopted to conduct semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 22 participants. As a result of the study, 7 positive and 4 negative sub-themes were identified for the category ‘making sense of digital platforms.’ Among these, the sub-themes of ‘informative,’ ‘communication tool,’ and ‘dangerous’ came to the fore. The ‘digital platform experience’ category was divided into 8 positive and 3 negative subthemes. Among the positive sub-themes, ‘receiving news from the environment/ maintaining relationships’ was the most common type of experience, and among the negative ones, ‘criticism’ stood out. Concerning the ‘reflection of digital platform experiences on daily life practices’ category, 6 positive and 3 negative sub-themes were identified. ‘Increased/accelerated access to information’ among the positive themes and ‘a new addiction’ among the negative themes were the most emphasized.

Keywords

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Communication and Media Studies

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 12, 2024

Submission Date

April 25, 2023

Acceptance Date

July 9, 2024

Published in Issue

Year 2024 Number: 66

APA
Gül Ünlü, D., & Karakoç Keskin, E. (2024). From pandemic to post-pandemic: Understanding the digital platform usage experiences of older people. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, 66, 183-209. https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1287459
AMA
1.Gül Ünlü D, Karakoç Keskin E. From pandemic to post-pandemic: Understanding the digital platform usage experiences of older people. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 2024;(66):183-209. doi:10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1287459
Chicago
Gül Ünlü, Derya, and Elif Karakoç Keskin. 2024. “From Pandemic to Post-Pandemic: Understanding the Digital Platform Usage Experiences of Older People”. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, nos. 66: 183-209. https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1287459.
EndNote
Gül Ünlü D, Karakoç Keskin E (July 1, 2024) From pandemic to post-pandemic: Understanding the digital platform usage experiences of older people. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences 66 183–209.
IEEE
[1]D. Gül Ünlü and E. Karakoç Keskin, “From pandemic to post-pandemic: Understanding the digital platform usage experiences of older people”, Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, no. 66, pp. 183–209, July 2024, doi: 10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1287459.
ISNAD
Gül Ünlü, Derya - Karakoç Keskin, Elif. “From Pandemic to Post-Pandemic: Understanding the Digital Platform Usage Experiences of Older People”. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 66 (July 1, 2024): 183-209. https://doi.org/10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1287459.
JAMA
1.Gül Ünlü D, Karakoç Keskin E. From pandemic to post-pandemic: Understanding the digital platform usage experiences of older people. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 2024;:183–209.
MLA
Gül Ünlü, Derya, and Elif Karakoç Keskin. “From Pandemic to Post-Pandemic: Understanding the Digital Platform Usage Experiences of Older People”. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences, no. 66, July 2024, pp. 183-09, doi:10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1287459.
Vancouver
1.Derya Gül Ünlü, Elif Karakoç Keskin. From pandemic to post-pandemic: Understanding the digital platform usage experiences of older people. Connectist: Istanbul University Journal of Communication Sciences. 2024 Jul. 1;(66):183-209. doi:10.26650/CONNECTIST2024-1287459