Older adults in the digital age in Latin America: bridging the digital age divide

Abstract

In recent decades, countries across Latin America have entered a stage of sustained population ageing. In parallel, changes associated with the rise of the digital society have profoundly transformed the way in which people in the region interact with each other and with their governments. This paper examines the use and appropriation of digital technologies among older adults in the region. In particular, it describes the evolution of Internet use by older adults in the region, using data from national household surveys; examines the determinants of Internet use among older adults, considering variables such as sex, ethnicity, education level and rural/urban residence using logistic regression analysis; and, lastly, highlights policies and programmes that are being implemented to promote the inclusion of older adults through the use of digital technologies.