Abstract
Generational Use of New Media investigates the everyday use of technology by younger and older generations. The editors, Loos, Haddon, and Mante-Meijer posit, “All citizens, including young and old, should at least be entitled to have access to this new realm of online and multimedia possibilities so that they will be able to participate more fully in societies in which these technologies and facilities are increasingly prevalent and increasingly confronting us in our everyday lives” (p. 1). However, they contend that access to technology does not correlate with participation levels among users.
The research presented here challenges the conventional wisdom of a digital divide between generations. Through assembling a range of quantitative and qualitative studies in this volume, the editors assert that younger and older generations cannot be neatly divided into digital natives and digital immigrants. Instead, Loos et al. insist that it is more apt to classify media usage among these generations along a digital spectrum.
Part 1 investigates families’ relationships with information and communication technologies. The first three chapters seek to demonstrate that among young technology users, a majority of children are not bothered by parental mediation of the Internet. In fact, teenagers appear to benefit from their parents’ moral philosophy of Internet use. Furthermore, households that employ a shared integration of communication model behave more democratically as parents negotiate power with their children. In Chapter 4, the author argues that “neither young nor older people can be assumed to have the necessary skills to be a part of an inclusive, networked society” (p. 84), aligning with the book’s overall assertion that generational usage of technology should be conceptualized as falling along a digital spectrum.
Part 2 investigates how generational experiences, attitudes, and self-efficacy influence Internet and mobile communication usage among older generations. Specifically, these studies consider several factors that contribute to older generations’ varying levels of interest and engagement. These chapters show that although ageing can impact levels of Internet understanding, design considerations cannot be overlooked if we are to ensure inclusivity among older users.
The final part contrasts generational use of technology. Chapter 8 explores how each generation has come to perceive and experience old and new mobile communication. It also highlights differences between digital natives and digital immigrants. For example, digital natives prefer instant messaging, while digital immigrants favor email. In Chapter 9, the myth that younger generations are well equipped to handle emerging mobile media is challenged, followed by research in Chapter 10 revealing the impact of age-related functional limitations.
With regard to evolving technology and the implications of these changes for family life, this book makes an important and convincing research contribution. Despite a long history of anxiety associated with children’s use of technologies (i.e., television), this book does not reveal parental resistance towards the Internet as the families studied tended to be satisfied with the extent of their children’s Internet usage. Although teenagers occasionally criticized their parents for Internet surveillance, the research presented here indicates that young people still exhibited respect and preference for adult moral reasoning and restrictive rules. The degree of parental control of technology also appears to vary according to the medium: TV, mobile phone, computer games, or Internet.
Overall, this book provides a thorough examination of the everyday use of technology by different generations of the family, offering a user-centric perspective. Loos et al. demonstrate how everyone, regardless of age, can have access to ICTs. They caution that to avoid an exclusionary technological world, we must challenge stereotypes and emphasize social and design considerations. Implementing these suggestions would benefit every user of mobile media. While these contributions are valuable, the book lacks an in-depth discussion of mobile communication by both generations. Despite the growing number of users accessing media on their mobile devices, mobile communication is only briefly addressed in two chapters. The majority of the studies focus on Internet usage accessed via desktop computers. Furthermore, the editors do not specifically address the implications of mobile media on the family as it relates to older generations. The edited collection could benefit from an analysis of older generations and their familial assistance with technology. Still, this book is worth reading, especially for those who are interested in exploring what technological advancements mean for ageing, family, and our society.