Older Americans and email/Internet adoption: The perceptions of consequences on relationships

This study focused on the positive and negative attributes of Email/Internet for older Americans, age 65 or over, in the establishment and/or maintenance of friendships. The importance of friendships for older adults was well documented in the literature. The characteristics of Email/Internet as a communication tool that facilitates human interaction were also well documented. The current adoption rate of Email/Internet for older adults is increasing dramatically; yet the percentage of older Americans using Email/Internet remains lower than in any other age group. Using the diffusion of innovation theory and a survey interview method, nine older Americans living in Johnson County Kansas participated in two separate interviews focusing on their perceptions of friendship relationships and Email/Internet adoption. Participants were divided into three adoption stage groups: individuals with knowledge of Email/Internet; individuals in the decision stage enrolled in computer courses; and individuals who use Email/Internet on a regular basis. The findings from this study concluded that although older Americans have a positive perception of Email/Internet as a tool for gathering information, their perceptions of Email/Internet as a communication tool for the establishment and/or maintenance of friendships was not favorable; they preferred telephone or face-to-face contact with their friends.