Sir, – As social action manager for Google Ireland and programme manager for our Age Engage initiative, which helps older people get more benefit from the Internet, I have a vested interest in this area.
Through my work teaching Internet skills to older people from the local area, I can see through the lens of those not using the Internet. I agree with Dr Brenda O’Hanrahan (February 20th) that various groups in our society are being adversely affected by the move to online services. I also believe the barriers are more complex than the perceived “Luddite” tag referenced by both Dr O’Hanrahan, and in responses to her letter.
Reluctance to adapt to new technologies is not a new phenomenon, and the original motivation of the Luddite movement is often forgotten – the desire to hold on to tradition and a way of life that people had known for many generations.
We teach Internet skills to older people from the local area and our students can be generalised into two groups. First, those who wish to learn a specific skill, such as booking tickets, keeping in touch with folks abroad, etc. Second, those who want to generally learn more about what the Internet is and how it can benefit them. People from the latter group often feel excluded in a world where human interaction increasingly occurs on the Internet.
If people don’t want to use the Internet, they shouldn’t have to.
But I believe the opportunity should be available to all. And furthermore, I think we need to examine the reluctance of people to make sure that it is a well- informed decision not to engage with the Internet. For example, we find that a lot of students are fearful – of breaking the Internet, breaking their computer, losing data, exposing themselves to scams. These are real fears that need to be dealt with, but they should not be barriers to safe and enjoyable use of the Internet to enhance existing hobbies and interests. And fear is only one of many barriers to engagement.
I echo the call for more indepth research into this area. For those interested, the last indepth study was conducted in 2008 and is available on the DCENR website. And yes, I’m aware of the irony of sending people to an online resource.
In our classes, I get the opportunity to see how embracing the Internet can change people's lives – reducing isolation, accessing services, keeping in touch with loved ones, etc. We are building scalable and sustainable solutions for IT skills development, specifically for older people, with projects such as GetYourFolksOnline.ie.
I would encourage people to develop some basic skills so that they can join the conversation and express their frustration and concerns in the same language as those on the other side of the digital divide. – Yours, etc,