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Online communities for older users: what can we learn from local community interactions to create social sites that work for older people

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posted on 2023-06-08, 18:41 authored by Dave Harley, Kate HowlandKate Howland, Eric Harris
This study looked at the significance of family and local community connections in determining online community engagement amongst a sample of older people in the south of England. Four catalysts were identified which motivated engagement with local and online forms of community and these were: family, roles, loss and ‘spaces and places’. SNS use (primarily Facebook) was largely family-focussed but alternative social motives were evident in relation to other forms of online community. There was a clear preference for meeting face to face with online communities and social networking sites being used predominantly as tools for achieving this aim. Exploration of the catalysts offers ways that greater community involvement might be further facilitated through social and design initiatives. Suggestions include private ‘family rooms’ within Facebook, anonymous ‘sharing spaces’ in elder-specific communities and a focus on hyperlocal initiatives to connect local and online communities.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Presentation Type

  • paper

Event name

British Human Computer Interaction Conference

Event location

Southport

Event type

conference

Event date

9-12 September 2014

Department affiliated with

  • Informatics Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-10-14

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