Understanding Silence: A Sociological Exploration of the Challenges Faced by Elderly Cybercrime Victims in Approaching Formal Reporting Channels in India

The Indian society is digitizing at a rapid pace. This development has resulted in new opportunities for senior citizens to utilize technology but, at the same time, has also exposed them to severe cybercrime threats. This paper examines the socio-cultural barriers that prevent senior Indians from coming forward to report their experiences of victimization due to hacking. Previous studies have already pointed out the knowledge gaps, decreased intentions to report, inefficiencies in the reporting system, and vulnerabilities intersecting with digital literacy, gender, and socio-economic factors. We have discovered that senior citizens are struggling to navigate digital environments because of insufficient awareness about online cyber threats and risky online practices, which are further worsened by the hindrances created by institutions to make complaint filing easier. The significance of this paper is threefold: it belongs to the growing literature on digital gerontology and the victimology of cybercrime by highlighting an impediment in the Indian socio-cultural setting. The findings suggest that the need for immediate action to safeguard this vulnerable group in a rapidly digitizing environment is imperative.