Digital inequalities continue to concern researchers across highly technologised countries. In recent years, however, most research on digital inequalities has focused on distinguishing different patterns of Internet use rather than examining Internet non-users. The few quantitative studies of non-use and reasons for non-use often stay on a descriptive level, while qualitative studies mostly investigate subpopulations, such as those living in specific neighbourhoods. Although there are a number of studies of digital inequalities among young people and the elderly, a systematic literature search finds no research focusing on middle-aged individuals, who might face specific problems with being offline, as they are of working age and more likely than other age groups to have children living in the household. On the basis of a mixed-methods research design that compares non-users in Great Britain and Sweden, the overarching research question for this study sheds light on the mechanisms contributing to Internet non-use, as it examines the socio-economic backgrounds, attitudes, perceptions, and everyday life experiences of non-users with a focus on 25 to 55 year-olds. It applies advanced statistical analyses of secondary nationally representative survey data as well as in-depth analysis of qualitative interviews with 10 middle-aged non-users from each country. The analysis of these combined data shows that while socio-economic variables still play an important role in influencing who is on- and offline, general attitudes towards technologies are even more influential. The study finds that there is a lack of life-fit (Selwyn 2006) of ICTs for a number of non-users and a potentially negative impact of warm experts (Bakardjeva 2005) who have previously been regarded as a positive influence. Moreover, vulnerable groups (e.g. immigrants) are facing more substantial problems, such as issues with literacy and language, which need to be tackled first. The deliberation of similarities and differences between Britain and Sweden against the backdrop of policy interventions and cultural values shows that being offline is not problematic for all Internet non-users; some of them thrive in highly technologised societies. The conclusion offers proposals for both future research and policy interventions for those, currently offline mainly due to socio-economic reasons, who would like to go online in the future.

Esta tese visa analisar de que maneira as condições de acesso à Internet (autonomia de uso) e fatores sociodemográficos (idade, gênero, classe social e área geográfica) influenciam o desenvolvimento de habilidades digitais e como essas, por sua vez, afetam o aproveitamento de oportunidades online. A partir da literatura do campo de exclusão digital e da lente teórica do modelo de campos correspondentes desenvolveu-se um modelo de pesquisa que norteou as análises empreendidas nesta investigação. Para tanto, foi adotada uma estratégia metodológica quantitativa tendo como base os microdados das edições de 2014 e 2016 da pesquisa TIC Domicílios coordenada pelo Centro Regional de Estudos para o Desenvolvimento da Sociedade da Informação (Cetic.br). A investigação empreendida nesta tese está contemplada em três artigos inter-relacionadas para os quais aplicou-se as seguintes técnicas estatísticas multivariadas para o tratamento e análise de dados: análise de conglomerados, análise fatorial para dados binários, regressão logística binária e regressão linear múltipla. Os resultados desta investigação evidenciam que a simples disponibilização do acesso à Internet (foco de ações e políticas que promovem a inclusão digital) não é suficiente para o aproveitamento de oportunidades online, em virtude das desigualdades digitais existentes em termos de autonomia de uso e nos níveis de habilidades digitais. Em síntese, os achados da pesquisa apontam que indivíduos de maior status socioeconômico (maior classe social, escolaridade e renda) tendem a se conectar à Internet por meio de dispositivos computacionais e móveis (multiplataforma) e em uma maior variedade de locais de acesso, consequentemente, alcançando maior nível de autonomia de uso, o qual tende a influenciar positivamente nos diferentes níveis de habilidades digitais, contribuindo para melhor usufruir as oportunidades online de domínio econômico, social e pessoal. Em contrapartida, usuários de menor status socioeconômico (classe DE) tendem a apresentar menor nível de autonomia de uso (conectando-se exclusivamente pelo celular), potencialmente implicando em menores níveis de competência digital, ocasionando em um menor aproveitamento de oportunidades online, principalmente no domínio econômico. Em linhas gerais, esses achados demonstram que as desigualdades sociais previamente existentes no mundo social (offline) tendem a ser mantidas e amplificadas no universo digital. Além de permitir uma análise em profundidade do fenômeno da exclusão digital no Brasil, tais achados podem contribuir para avaliação e desenvolvimento de políticas públicas de inclusão digital. / This doctorate thesis aims to analyze how the conditions of Internet access (autonomy of use) and sociodemographic factors (age, gender, social class and geographic area) influence the development of digital skills and how these in turn affect the harnessing of online opportunities. From the literature of the digital divide field and the theoretical lens of the corresponding fields model, a research model was developed to guide the analyzes undertaken in this research. Thus, a quantitative approach was adopted based on the microdata of the 2014 and 2016 editions of the ICT Households survey coordinated by the Regional Center for Studies on the Development of the Information Society (Cetic.br). The research undertaken in this doctorate thesis is contemplated in three interrelated papers for which the following multivariate statistical techniques were applied for the treatment and analysis of data: cluster analysis, binary factor analysis, binary logistic regression and multiple linear regression. The results of this research show that the simple availability of Internet access (which is the focus of policies that promote digital inclusion) is not enough to take advantage of online opportunities due to the existing digital inequalities in terms of autonomy of use and levels of digital skills. In summary, the research findings point out that individuals of higher socioeconomic status (higher social class, level of education and income) tend to access the Internet through computer and mobile devices (multiplatform) and in a greater variety of locations, consequently, reaching a greater level of autonomy of use, which tends to influence positively in the different levels of Internet skills, contributing to take advantage of online opportunities of economic, social and personal domains. On the other hand, users of lower socioeconomic status tend to have a lower level of autonomy of use (connecting exclusively via mobile), potentially implying in lower levels of digital competence, leading to less harnessing of online opportunities, especially in the economic domain. These findings demonstrate that social inequalities previously existing in the social world (offline) tend to be maintained and amplified in the digital universe. In addition to allowing an in-depth analysis of the phenomenon of digital divide in Brazil, such findings can contribute to the evaluation and development of public policies for digital inclusion.

<p>Primenom teorija digitalnih komunikacija i sociologije veba i empirijskih dokaza, u doktoratu pažnja će biti posvećena pitanju mogućnosti primene internet tehnologija u oblasti visokog obrazovanja. Kroz kategorije nove društvenosti i umreženog zajedništva, procesi saradnje i interakcije su istraženi, i testirane su komunikacione mogućnosti internet zajednica u Srbiji. Biće analizirani i predstavljeni novi fenomeni koje se pojavljuju u praksama komunikacije i učešća u naprednim inteligentnim sistemima, kao što je visokoškolska zajednica.</p> / <p>By deploying theories of digital communications and sociology of web, as well as the empirical evidence - in the thesis attention will be paid to the issue of the possibilities of application of Internet technologies in the area of higher education. Through categories of new sociability and networked community, the processes of collaboration and interaction are explored, and communication possibilities in the internet communities in Serbia are tested. New phenomena that emerge in the communication and collaboration practices in an advanced intelligent system, such is a higher education community, will be analysed.</p>

Introduktion: Alla i samhället påverkas av den digitala omställningen och covid-19 pandemin har fungerat som murbräcka för både ökad digital transformering och ökad användning. den äldre gruppen varit mest utsatt inte bara iform av ökad risk för död till följd av sjukdomen utan även varit begränsad i sitt sociala liv med minskad delaktighet som följd. Trots rekommendationer beträffande isolering och karantän har viss social interaktion ägt rum och även med hjälp av digitala verktyg men emellertid resulterat i ökad social isolering med ohälsa både på fysiskt och psykiskt plan (Folkhälsomyndigheten, 2022a). Covid-19 pandemin har gett upphov till etiska frågor, vilket aktualiserar andra frågor som exempelvis vilket samhället som skapas, vilka attityder som ska styra, vilka normer som samhället ska eftersträva och med det vilka etiska perspektiv det nya ska antas. Syfte: Studiens syfte är att undersöka äldres digitaladelaktighet med fokus på den digitala klyftan med etiska överväganden för att resultera i ökad inkludering. Metod: En strukturerad litteraturstudie som inkluderade 11 vetenskapliga artiklar publicerade 2019–2022 som söktes i databaserna PubMed och Web of Science. Resultat:Resultaten visar det komplexa sambandet mellan äldres digitala användning för ökad delaktighet, för aktivt åldrande och samhällsengagemang. Slutsats: Trots ökad digital tillgång är äldre fortfarande utanför digitaliseringen i samhället av mångfaktoriella orsaker. För ökad digital inkludering och delaktighet föreslås genom resultat, att fokusera på de äldres olika behov och ändra perspektiv genom fokusera på det aktiva åldrandet som en resurs för samhället och dess utveckling. / Introduction: Everyone in the society is affected by the digital transition and the Covid-19 pandemic has served as a gateway for both increased digital transformation and increased use. The elderly have been most exposed not only in the form of increased risk of death dueto a disease but also as victims limitations in social life with reduced participation as anoutcome. Despite recommendations regarding isolation and quarantine, some social interaction has taken place. Also with the help of digital tools, but has nevertheless increased social isolation resulting in ill health (Public Health Agency, 2022). The Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to ethical issues. Which raises other issues such as which kind ofsociety is created, which attitudes prevail, which norms the society is apt to strive for and with which new ethical perspectives are to be adopted. Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate the digital participation of the elderly with a focus on the digital divide with special reference to ethical considerations such as potential for increased inclusion. Method: A structured literature review including 11 scientific articles published in 2019–2022 found in the databases PubMed and Web of Science. Results: The results showed atcomplex association between the elderly's digital use for increased participation, for active aging and community involvement. Conclusion: Despite increased digital access, the elderly still stand outside digitalisation in the society for multifactorial reasons. For increased digital inclusion and participation, the results suggest to focus on the different needs of the elderly and change of perspective by focusing on active aging as a resource for the society and its development.