{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,20]],"date-time":"2026-05-20T17:16:39Z","timestamp":1779297399190,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":67,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2014,6,12]],"date-time":"2014-06-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1402531200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["New Media &amp; Society"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2016,2]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>The diffusion of the Internet is reaching a level between 80% and 90% in Western societies. Yet, while the digital divide is closing for young cohorts, it is still an issue when comparing various generations. This study focuses specifically on the so-called \u2018grey divide\u2019, a divide among seniors of age 65+ years. Based on a representative survey in Switzerland ( N = 1105), it is found that Internet use is strongly skewed in this age group leading to a partial exclusion of the old seniors (70+). Logistic regression shows that gender differences in usage disappear if controlled for education, income, technical interest, pre-retirement computer use and marital status. Furthermore, the social context appears to have a manifold influence on Internet use. Encouragement by family and friends is a strong predictor for Internet use, and private learning settings are preferred over professional courses. Implications for digital inequality initiatives and further research are discussed.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444814538648","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2014,6,13]],"date-time":"2014-06-13T03:20:40Z","timestamp":1402629640000},"page":"313-331","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":832,"title":["The digital divide has grown old: Determinants of a digital divide among seniors"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Thomas N","family":"Friemel","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"University of Bremen, Germany"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2014,6,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-1461444814538648","unstructured":"BfS (2014) Internetnutzung: Haushalte und Bev\u00f6lkerung. Available at: http:\/\/www.bfs.admin.ch\/bfs\/portal\/de\/index\/themen\/16\/04\/key\/approche_globale.indicator.30106.301.html (accessed 4 May 2014)."},{"key":"bibr2-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0267323102017001607"},{"key":"bibr3-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-8721.2009.01647.x"},{"key":"bibr4-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.2307\/249688"},{"key":"bibr5-1461444814538648","first-page":"1","volume":"38","author":"Demunter C","year":"2005","journal-title":"Statistics in Focus"},{"key":"bibr6-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.17705\/1jais.00074"},{"key":"bibr7-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev.soc.27.1.307"},{"key":"bibr8-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/10410236.2011.585451"},{"key":"bibr9-1461444814538648","volume-title":"Cultures of the Internet: the Internet in Britain","author":"Dutton WH","year":"2013"},{"key":"bibr10-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socnet.2011.08.002"},{"issue":"2","key":"bibr11-1461444814538648","first-page":"147","volume":"10","author":"Friemel TN","year":"2010","journal-title":"Studies in Communication Sciences"},{"key":"bibr12-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10433-008-0083-7"},{"key":"bibr13-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1745-6606.2011.01218.x"},{"key":"bibr14-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/009365091018003004"},{"key":"bibr15-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444812442663"},{"key":"bibr16-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hargittai E (2002) Second-level digital divide: differences in people\u2019s online skills. First Monday 7(4). Available at: http:\/\/firstmonday.org\/article\/view\/942\/864","DOI":"10.5210\/fm.v7i4.942"},{"key":"bibr17-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0093650208321782"},{"key":"bibr18-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0093650209356439"},{"key":"bibr19-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1287\/isre.1090.0256"},{"key":"bibr20-1461444814538648","unstructured":"ITU (2013) Individuals using the Internet 2000\u20132012. Available at: http:\/\/www.itu.int\/ITU-D\/ict\/statistics\/ (accessed 4 May 2014)."},{"key":"bibr21-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7551\/mitpress\/6292.001.0001"},{"key":"bibr22-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444811421599"},{"key":"bibr23-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1083-6101.2007.00369.x"},{"key":"bibr24-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/03601270802000576"},{"key":"bibr25-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/esr\/jci030"},{"key":"bibr26-1461444814538648","unstructured":"Latzer M, Natascha J, Metreveli S, (2013) Internet-Anwendungen und deren Nutzung in der Schweiz. University of Zurich. Available at: http:\/\/www.mediachange.ch\/media\/pdf\/publications\/Verbreitung_und_Bruchlinien_2013.pdf (accessed 4 May 2014)."},{"key":"bibr27-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.7312\/laza93930"},{"key":"bibr28-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2011.01.003"},{"key":"bibr29-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444807080335"},{"key":"bibr30-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/009365001028004007"},{"key":"bibr31-1461444814538648","unstructured":"Madden M, Lenhart A, Duggan M, (2013) Teens and Technology 2013. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center. Available at: http:\/\/www.pewinternet.org\/2013\/03\/13\/teens-and-technology-2013 (accessed 4 May 2014)."},{"key":"bibr32-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0882-7974.21.1.190"},{"key":"bibr33-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.11645\/1.3.14"},{"key":"bibr34-1461444814538648","volume-title":"Virtual Inequality: Beyond the Digital Divide","author":"Mossberger K","year":"2003"},{"key":"bibr35-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/geront\/gnp141"},{"key":"bibr36-1461444814538648","volume-title":"Digital Divide: Civic Engagement, Information Poverty, and the Internet Worldwide","author":"Norris P","year":"2003"},{"key":"bibr37-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10433-007-0067-z"},{"key":"bibr38-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jcom.12045"},{"key":"bibr39-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1083-6101.2010.01523.x"},{"key":"bibr40-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0093650208315958"},{"key":"bibr41-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijmedinf.2005.07.032"},{"key":"bibr42-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4135\/9781544308449"},{"key":"bibr43-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/0378-8733(90)90021-Z"},{"key":"bibr44-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444805050763"},{"key":"bibr45-1461444814538648","unstructured":"Riesen S, H\u00e4nggli A (2006) Onliner und Offliner \u00fcber 50: Ausgew\u00e4hlte Determinanten der Internetnutzung im Alter. Unpublished research report, University of Zurich, Zurich."},{"key":"bibr46-1461444814538648","volume-title":"Diffusion of Innovations","author":"Rogers EM","year":"2003"},{"issue":"21","key":"bibr47-1461444814538648","first-page":"43","volume":"11","author":"Rothe G","year":"1987","journal-title":"ZUMA Nachrichten"},{"key":"bibr48-1461444814538648","volume-title":"IKT-Nutzung im Alter: Gr\u00fcnde der (Nicht-)Nutzung von Informations- und Kommunikationstechnologie (IKT) durch Menschen ab 65 Jahren in der Schweiz (Z\u00fcrcher Schriften zur Gerontologie)","volume":"7","author":"Schelling HR","year":"2010"},{"key":"bibr49-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0144686X03001302"},{"key":"bibr50-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13607860601086546"},{"key":"bibr51-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/geronb\/63.3.P176"},{"key":"bibr52-1461444814538648","unstructured":"Smith A (2014) Older Adults and Technology Use: Adoption Is Increasing, But Many Seniors Remain Isolated from Digital Life. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center. Available at: http:\/\/www.pewinternet.org\/2014\/04\/03\/older-adults-and-technology-use (accessed 4 May 2014)."},{"key":"bibr53-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socnet.2009.02.004"},{"key":"bibr54-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444809340786"},{"key":"bibr55-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1083-6101.2008.01437.x"},{"key":"bibr56-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1461444810386774"},{"key":"bibr57-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/01972240309487"},{"key":"bibr58-1461444814538648","first-page":"358","volume":"8","author":"Van Eimeren B","year":"2013","journal-title":"Media Perspektiven"},{"key":"bibr59-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/01615440903423245"},{"key":"bibr60-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.telpol.2010.12.013"},{"key":"bibr61-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.chb.2010.03.029"},{"key":"bibr62-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1083-6101.2012.01578.x"},{"key":"bibr63-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/15205431003642707"},{"key":"bibr64-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1083-6101.2008.00417.x"},{"key":"bibr65-1461444814538648","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/asi.20530"},{"key":"bibr66-1461444814538648","unstructured":"Zickuhr K (2013) Who\u2019s Not Online and Why. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center. Available at: http:\/\/pewinternet.org\/Reports\/2013\/Non-internet-users.aspx (accessed 4 May 2014)."},{"key":"bibr67-1461444814538648","unstructured":"Zickuhr K, Smith A (2012) Digital Differences. Washington, DC: Pew Research Center. Available at: http:\/\/pewinternet.org\/Reports\/2012\/Digital-differences.aspx (accessed 4 May 2014)."}],"container-title":["New Media &amp; Society"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/1461444814538648","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/1461444814538648","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/1461444814538648","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,2]],"date-time":"2026-05-02T03:42:13Z","timestamp":1777693333000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/1461444814538648"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2014,6,12]]},"references-count":67,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2016,2]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/1461444814538648"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1461444814538648","relation":{},"ISSN":["1461-4448","1461-7315"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1461-4448","type":"print"},{"value":"1461-7315","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2014,6,12]]}}}