Technology: A Bridge or a Wall? The Inter(intra)generational Use of ICTs Among Italian Grandmothers

Our research aims to investigate the role played by media and ICTs\r\nin building intergenerational and intragenerational relations for the grandparents.\r\nThe project aims to understand how grandmothers use Facebook and digital\r\ndevices (computers, laptops, tablets, smartphones) within the family and the\r\nfriend networks, the role of communication technologies for entertainment and\r\nthe resistance and difficulties in using ICT for elderly. Data for research analysis\r\nwas collected through four focus groups conducted with 28 Italian grandmothers\r\nliving in Milan, Italy.\r\nOur focus groups show an intricate scenario: although the trigger to start to\r\nuse new digital technology comes from family and people belonging to different\r\ngenerations, the daily use of the ICTs reveals a complex relationship with children\r\nand grandchildren regarding technological issues, which often characterized by\r\nincompatible netiquette, different competences and lack of learning assistance.\r\nAs more elderly are going online and widening their online interactions,\r\nfurther research should be pursued to understand how older people use digital\r\ntechnologies to communicate with peers and to point out the differences between\r\nelderly digital use for intra and intergenerational communication.