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Size matters: locality of residence and media use in later life

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 February 2021

Dennis Rosenberg Open the ORCID record for Dennis Rosenberg [Opens in a new window]  and
Galit Nimrod
Dennis Rosenberg*
Affiliation:
Department of Communication Studies, The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and The Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
Galit Nimrod
Affiliation:
Department of Communication Studies, The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, and The Center for Multidisciplinary Research in Aging, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Various factors determine the use of media in later life. Nevertheless, spatial inequalities among older media users have been accorded little attention in academic research. This study aimed to explore differences in variety (number) and intensity (duration) of both traditional and new media use among older adults residing in various types of localities. Data were obtained from the second wave of the ACT (Ageing + Communication + Technology) cross-national survey, comprising 7,927 internet users aged 60 and over from seven countries. The statistical analyses used in the study were chi-square and analysis of variance tests, and linear regression as a multivariate technique. The results indicated that spatial differences concern variety of media use to a greater extent than its intensity, especially with regard to use of traditional media via new devices. Overall, residents of large cities exhibited greater variety and intensity of media use than did their counterparts from smaller localities, especially rural ones. These findings supported the social stratification hypothesis – according to which individuals from more-privileged social backgrounds have better media literacy, use media to a greater extent and benefit from its use more than people from disadvantaged groups. The findings should be considered by practitioners and policy makers.

Keywords

cross-national surveydigital divideinternetmedia displacementold agesocial stratification
Type
Article
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 42 , Issue 10 , October 2022 , pp. 2323 - 2342
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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