Digital channels are great for older people - no they aren't - it all depends

My friends at Digital Unite are leading a new programme (OneDigital) to try and help the large numbers of older people who are not using the Internet or only making minimal use. Have a look at the launch video




The same day as I read about OneDigital I looked through some research that seemed to show that the digital behaviour of the young and older people is not that much different.

So how on earth can this be correct. On one hand we have a major issue with Digital Exclusion and on the other, there seems to be very little difference between the young and the old in their digital habits.

Well, I suspect the answer is simple. When people have been using online for some time then the age differences in digital habits decline. BUT, there is a large number of people who are not even at the starting point and logging on at least once a day.

So be careful how you use this type of research it can be mighty misleading. Dick Stroud