https://doi.org/10.1177/0267323118810852
European Journal of Communication
1–19
© The Author(s) 2018
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DOI: 10.1177/0267323118810852
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Resources and repertoires:
Elderly online practices
Tobias Olsson
Malmö University, Sweden
Ulli Samuelsson
Jönköping University, Sweden
Dino Viscovi
Linnaeus University, Sweden
Abstract
Inspired by the theoretical notion of media repertoires, this article analyses what online
repertoires Swedish senior citizens construct in everyday life. It answers two research questions:
What online repertoires do elderly users have? How do elderly users’ online repertoires vary
depending on their access to material, discursive and social resources? The article draws on data
from a large, representative Swedish survey (n = 1264, response rate 63%), and uses correlations
and multiple regression analysis to identify and analyse online repertoires with reference to
elderly users’ access to resources such as income, infrastructure, level of education and social
networks. The analysis reveals a significant element of selectivity in the online repertoires of
elderly users. It also shows strong connections between different Internet activities. In addition,
it offers substantial evidence in support of the proposition that individuals who are resource rich
have broader repertoires and higher frequency of usage than other users.
Keywords
Audience research, Internet related, repertoires, senior citizens, technology
In both research and public debate, digital media have often been perceived as young
people’s media. Young people are generally framed as online gamers, YouTubers and
Snapchatters, as well as heavy users of all kinds of digital media applications. This has,
Corresponding author:
Tobias Olsson, Faculty of Education and Society, Malmö University, 205 06 Malmö, Sweden.
Email: tobias.olsson@kom.lu.se
810852EJC 0 0 10.1177/0267323118810852European Journal of CommunicationOlsson et al.
research-article 2018
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