A Qualitative Study of Older Men's Experiences with Digital Technology in Rural Ireland

Our use of technology is changing at pace. Across all levels of Irish society, we are witnessing a growth in the need to adapt to new digitalised ways of living within our social, cultural, personal, and professional lives. Amidst these developments, it has become increasingly recognised that some groups in society have been experiencing unique challenges with such rapid change. One such group is that of older men in rural areas of Ireland. The evidence emerging from organisations such as Age Action Ireland and Men’s Sheds, and indeed mirroring the findings within the broader research literature, indicates that older men have often been found to experience greater levels of isolation than women. This is occurring in the context of an Irish society that is significantly below other European countries with regards to digital literacy – all of which has been emphasised during the unprecedented challenges of COVID-19. Despite the acknowledged role of technology in potentially (in)directly addressing feelings of isolation (as experienced by some during the pandemic), there remains highly mixed levels of uptake across older populations. This is compounded by the reality that many technology-based services and solutions across society are built without the input of the so-called 'end user' in mind.