Digital technologies are advancing at lightning speed, making the world more accessible and inclusive for many. But these technological advances also bring new forms of discrimination and prejudice.

Digital ageism refers to discriminating against people based on their ability to use digital technology. There is a common stereotype that young people are digital natives and tech-savvy, while older adults are incompetent when it comes to dealing with technology. Ageism, in general, intensified as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. So, it’s no surprise that digital ageism followed suit.

But data suggests it’s time to put generalisations about older people to bed. The latest figures in the UK suggest that more than half (54%) of people aged 75 years old and older used the internet in 2020. In 2013, the internet use figure stood at 29%. Similar is true of older people around the world; for example, the number of older Canadian adults using the internet doubled between 2007 and 2016. The digital divide is only narrowing.

So what does digital ageism look like, how does it happen, how does it affect people, and how can we tackle this pervasive issue?

What does digital ageism look like?

Back in 2012, renowned scholars Iversen, Larsen, and Solem introduced a new definition of ageism on the basis of a comprehensive literature review. Their definition of ageism is:

“negative or positive stereotypes, prejudice, and/or discrimination against (or to the advantage of) elderly people on the basis of their chronological age or on the basis of a perception of them as being “old” or “elderly”.

In 2023, ageism due to people’s perceived “old age” is rampant in the digital world. Digital ageism comes in many different forms. It’s so ingrained in our society that it’s not always overt or intentional.

Let’s examine a few situations where digital ageism presents difficulties for older individuals.

Workplace discrimination and digital ageism

Digital ageism drives workplace discrimination in more ways than one. Older people are often disadvantaged when it comes to advancing their careers.

Some people see older people as less proficient with technology than younger people. Employers may see them as less adaptable and slower to learn than their younger counterparts. These stereotypes can lead to older employees being overlooked for promotions, training opportunities, and even job opportunities in the first place.

And the assumption is false.

Many studies have found older people are just as willing to learn and capable of succeeding in the modern workplace when given the opportunity. The consequences of these false narratives can be dire for older people’s work prospects.

A 2022 survey found that nearly 80% of older employees in the US experienced age-related discrimination in the workplace. This was the highest figure recorded since the survey question was introduced in 2003, suggesting that ageist attitudes are getting worse with time, regardless of initiatives to combat discrimination in the workplace.

Age discrimination also means that people in their 50s are twice as likely to remain unemployed for two years or longer after losing their jobs. A 50-year-old is also three times less likely to get an interview than a 28-year-old applicant.

Inaccessible technology

Some stereotypes paint older people as frail, helpless, and incapable of operating in the modern world. But what many fail to realise is that digital advancements are not always accessible to older people, which creates this vicious cycle in the first place.

Think about it.

• Self-checkout tills at supermarkets are becoming more and more common with fewer and fewer manned options.
• Paying for parking happens through apps.
• Ticket machines at train stations are closing in lieu of online options.
• Bank branches are shutting down for the same reason.

Essential services are moving online. For people who own smartphones, understand how to download and use mobile apps, and live their lives online, these changes may seem a natural progression. Convenient, even.

But what about older people? What about those on the other side of the digital divide? The fact is that the technology design process does not always take into account the needs of older people.

Half of people over the age of 65 in the UK can’t navigate the internet and complete “fundamental” tasks, according to an Age UK study. And while smartphone ownership is rising among all age groups, those aged over 65 are still least likely to own one. In the UK, only 67% of people aged 65 and above owned a smartphone in 2022; in comparison, 100% of mobile phone users between the ages of 16 to 24 owned a smartphone.

Moving essential services online and necessitating the use of smartphones makes it more difficult for older people to participate in society effectively, further reinforcing “frail, helpless” stereotypes.

The way society operates as a whole is ageist and exclusionary.

Biased artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is making a splash these days. Algorithms can be racist, sexist, and ageist, too, and AI is no exception to this rule. Justyna Stypinska’s 2022 open-access paper discusses several ways artificial intelligence can be biased.

Stypinska defines AI ageism as:

“practices and ideologies operating within the field of AI which exclusive, discriminate, or neglect the interests, experiences, and needs of the older population.”

• Technical age biases that exist within algorithms and datasets.
• Age-related stereotypes perpetuated by people working in the AI space.
• Lack of representation of old age within AI-related discussions.
• Discriminatory consequences of using AI tech across different age groups.
• Excluding users of AI tech on the basis of age.

Her findings are supported by a University of Toronto (Ontario) paper available through the Gerontologist; gerontology refers to the scientific study of old age and problems faced by old people in particular.  

Researchers found that AI ethics, while still developing, rarely mention ageism as a prevailing issue. In fact, only around 23% of documents referenced “age” as a protected characteristic and even fewer referred to ageism in any capacity. 

So not only is the AI space becoming ageist, but ethical committees governing the industry do not sufficiently concern themselves with the potential consequences of ageism either. This is a recipe for disaster if not addressed.

A 2023 study led by Barbara Neves also explored the concept of socio-technical ageism in older people. Neves’ study suggested that when it comes to AI and technology, the issue isn’t just ageism at the informatics level. AI may be biased, but so are the gerontology professionals working with older people who are responsible for understanding, adopting, and implementing new technologies developed to improve healthcare, for instance.

What are the consequences of digital ageism?

Digital ageism has permeated every facet of our lives. Older people find it more challenging to carry out basic tasks, progress in their careers, and even use certain tech as it’s inherently ageist. Ageist algorithms are just one example. Some of these may sound like surface-level annoyances at best. But, in truth, they come with significant consequences.

Health disparities

Older people who experience ageism are more likely to suffer from negative health outcomes. One literature review looked at more than 400 studies involving ageism between 1970 to 2017. The studies spanned 40 countries and included data from more than seven million older people.

The idea was to examine the link between age discrimination and health outcomes, and researchers linked ageism to negative effects on older people’s health in 96% of the studies. People’s age was linked to behaviours like:

• Denying them access to healthcare.
• Excluding them from clinical trials.
• Rationing medical services and resources.

Consequences included cognitive impairment, poor physical and mental health, decreased quality of life, and decreased longevity.

This shows that ageism is a global problem with significant health consequences for older people.  At its worst, ageism can be life-shortening. This is a public health issue.

Believe it or not, digital ageism drives ageism in healthcare. A 2022 study found that the attitudes of healthcare workers, including those working in long-term care and nursing homes, towards older adults and their understanding of the digital landscape were critical reasons for exclusion from healthcare and digital trials.

For instance, researchers found that older adults were excluded from clinical trials requiring digital devices due to a stereotype regarding older adults’ abilities to use technology. This means researchers develop medical technology that suits the needs of younger people but ignores older people’s needs altogether. And the cycle continues as the digital health divide gets wider and wider.

Increased isolation

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 1 in 3 people report loneliness in regions including China, Europe, the US, and Latin America.

Loneliness, in itself, is a public health issue. In fact, the US Surgeon General called loneliness a “public health problem on the scale of smoking”. And it’s no wonder. Researchers have linked depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem to loneliness. Loneliness and social isolation only got worse during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly for people who had underlying health conditions or were shielding.

Isolation and ageism continue to be studied across the social sciences to help improve decision-making frameworks worldwide.

What can we do to tackle digital ageism?

Tackling digital ageism can’t just happen on an individual level. We can all educate ourselves about the dangers of ageism, but age bias is so ingrained in our everyday lives that it affects everything.

As such, effective methods tackling digital ageism involve individual, societal, and governmental efforts. Information and communication technologies can be a force for good if the right stakeholders are involved.

And people are beginning to realise this. For instance, A 2023 book by scholars Andrea Rosales, Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol and Jakob Svensson discusses the issues posed by digital ageism as well as possible interventions designed to tackle it.

Let’s explore some ways to fight digital ageism.

Tackling unfair ageist stereotypes

Stereotypes surround us everywhere: at work, on social media, and at school. Changing people’s perceptions and dismantling stereotypes is one of the best ways to tackle ageism. This re-education should start early, and policymakers seem to be grasping this.

As of 2023, in New York, a new curriculum developed in partnership with the Department for the Aging and the Department of Education was designed to curb age discrimination. Children will be taught that ageing isn’t a “disease”, shouldn’t be vilified, and is a natural part of life.

Implementing participatory design when developing new technologies

A big reason why AI and algorithmic biases exist is that older people are not involved in the development of new technologies from the onset. Improving inclusion in digitally driven projects is key.

A 2023 paper by Ittay Mannheim addresses this exact issue; it looks at how ageism can impact the design, implementation, and adoption of digital technologies. It comes with several recommendations to tackle this, including:

• Partnering with older people during the design stage to ensure new technologies are designed with everyone’s needs in mind.
• Raising awareness and training in the tech world as well as the world of academia to change the discourse on ageing and technology.
• Develop ways to reduce self-ageism, where older people don’t feel empowered to tackle projects involving tech due to feeling left out.

Ensuring older people are involved from the start and empowering them to take on these projects is a great way to tackle ageist AI and ageism in algorithms in general.

Improving digital literacy in later life

Improving digital literacy in later life is a great way to empower older people to use modern technologies. The idea that older people can’t or won’t learn modern technologies is a dangerous myth that needs dismantling.

As one OECD report said, older people invented many of the technologies we rely on today, including computers. As such, it’s unfair to assume they’re completely stuck in the past.

In fact, one successful program run by GetSetUp during the pandemic found that older adults learned best from peer-led groups where they could pick up practical skills. Retired teachers and college instructors ran these classes and helped older people understand how to use technology.

Keep in touch with AgeGroup

If you’re concerned about digital ageism and how it might impact your life or that of your loved ones, make sure you keep in touch with us! We’re developing products with the modern elder in mind to help deal with the causes and consequences of digital ageism.