One in four seniors feel digitally discriminated against

Digitalisation is accelerating and the population is aging.

“It is therefore essential that technology and service development be adapted and designed to meet the needs of an aging population,” says researcher Dag Slettemeås from Consumption Research Norway (SIFO) at OsloMet.

He is responsible for a recent study of how the oldest members of society perceive their ability to master new technology and an increasingly digitised society.

Most people have access to the internet

The study found that the majority of older people in Norway have the opportunity to connect to the internet if they wish. As many as 97 per cent have access to the internet at home, compared to 89 per cent in 2018. As in the wider population, the use of smartphones has increased the most, including when it comes to internet access.

As many as 80 per cent of 61–70-year-olds believe that they are adequately proficient in the use of the internet, while this figure falls to 64 per cent for 71–80-year-olds and 43 per cent for the very oldest, between 81 and 100 years of age. Nevertheless, if we look at the very oldest people, there has been a clear positive increase in the perception of proficiency over time, from 25 per cent in 2014 to 43 per cent in 2025.

Enabling participation in society

Half of the seniors who participated in the study believe that developments in technology and digitalisation are moving too quickly. One in three believe that the developments are frightening, while around half are more positive and consider the developments to be exciting.

“In other words, many more seniors consider the developments to be exciting rather than frightening,” says Slettemeås.

Nevertheless, a large proportion of seniors feel digitally discriminated against and many feel that they are falling behind in the digital race. A significant proportion believe that many seniors are pressured into digital participation and many call for non-digital alternatives. On the other hand, half say that digital and technological developments provide opportunities for them to participate in society.

“Seniors are ambivalent about technological developments. Many are curious but unsure about the consequences technology may have at both individual and societal level.

Artificial intelligence as support for everyday life

Dag Slettemeås is also responsible for a recent study of what the Norwegian population know and think about developments in artificial intelligence. Here too, opinions are divided.

“We are positive about specific solutions that can assist us in everyday life, but skeptical about the technology itself and the global power that can be found in it,” the researcher says.

Half the population have faith in artificial intelligence in the form of welfare technology and smart technology can help support the elderly in everyday life. Those with cognitive impairments in particular could benefit from help with scheduling appointments, medication reminders and advice on nutrition and exercise.

A third of the population have faith in the recommendation to use artificial intelligence in local authority home care so that the elderly can live at home for longer.

Almost half of seniors believe that AI could be of use to the elderly and society as a whole and 20 per cent strongly agree with this statement.

“However, we are more skeptical about the use of artificial intelligence and social robots as conversation partners and activity support for the elderly. Skepticism is particularly high among the elderly themselves,” says Slettemeås.

According to the researcher, “This shows that even though the technology can open up new forms of care, cultural and psychological acceptance remains a challenge”.

Concerns about safety in everyday life

We have more faith in AI-based smart safety systems that are used for monitoring and to notify carers in case of events affecting the elderly. More than half believe that this is a good idea and, unlike most other areas, the elderly are just as positive about this as the younger generations.

“This may be due to the fact that the elderly are often more concerned about safety than younger people,” says Slettemeås.

“Many seniors believe that smart home technology can lead to improved comfort, user-friendliness and time savings and can make them more independent so that they can live at home for longer,” he says.

However, many seniors are concerned about AI-generated fraud and fake content. As many as eight in ten are worried about AI becoming so similar to humans that it will become impossible to tell the difference.

Findings from the studies

Since 2018, seniors have increasingly been adding “smart” gadgets to their homes. The use of smart watches and exercise bracelets has increased from 10 to 29 per cent, robot vacuum cleaners from 6 to 21 per cent, smart speakers from 6 to 18 per cent, robot lawn mowers from 8 to 17 per cent and electronic door locks from 7 to 16 per cent.
One in four seniors have some form of safety technology at home.
One in three have no “smart” gadgets compared to half in 2018.

About the studies

The project, AI-AGE, looks at elderly people’s digital life in an artificially intelligent age: opportunities, barriers and need for universal design and funding received from the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir) in 2024. The report compares 2025 figures to figures from 2018 and, to some extent, 2014.

A national study was conducted in March 2025 on the Norwegian population’s encounters with artificial intelligence in various areas, touching on experiences, attitudes and assessments. The report forms part of the RELINK research project, funded by the Research Council of Norway.