Active ageing and the challenges of digitalisation. Experiences from the Social research Active.it

Digital transformation impacts every sphere of private and public life, including public administration (PA). Particularly, it affects different social groups, with the older population being among the most vulnerable. Even with efforts to increase their digital skills, there remains a significant risk of older adults being excluded from many aspects of social life when digital technologies are involved, including access to public services—an issue contradicting the active ageing principles. This contribution investigates the relationship between older people and digital technologies, with a focus on digital public services. It draws on two research streams from the ACTIVE-it project: respectively, semi-structured longitudinal interviews that explore older adults’ digital practices during the COVID-19 pandemic, and participant observation within the environment of a digital literacy course. Our findings indicate that, to harness the opportunities and mitigate the risks of digital transformation, it is essential to provide institutional learning opportunities tailored to the specific needs of older age groups. Furthermore, these interventions must be supported by public institutions to address this issue systematically. Ensuring widespread dissemination and accessibility of solutions is crucial in the face of such extensive and radical societal transformations.