Understanding digital divide: demographic information and older adults’ ICT adoption

Purpose Demographic factors, particularly education and gender, are known to significantly impact individuals’ adoption of information and communication technologies (ICTs). However, it remains uncertain whether these effects differ within older age groups. To help address the age-based digital divide, this paper aims to examine how education and gender influence ICT adoption among older adults and to propose targeted recommendations accordingly. Design/methodology/approach By conducting the Bass model on the adoption proportion of individuals with different ages, education levels and genders in online banking services, online information search and online purchase, the effect of innovation and imitation is obtained. Findings The results reveal a pronounced age-based digital divide in ICT adoption, particularly for online purchasing. While education appears to be a key factor contributing to this divide among older adults, a gender-based digital divide within this group is observed only in smaller countries. Additionally, the impact of imitation on ICT adoption is significantly stronger for older adults than for younger individuals. The effects of both imitation and innovation are further influenced by older adults’ education levels, gender and the size of the adult population in each country. Originality/value This article quantitatively verifies the influence of age on ICT adoption diffusion and explores how education impacts their ICT adoption patterns. The findings enhance the current literature on the digital divide and provide practical recommendations for addressing the digital divide.