<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>Since access to and use of digital devices and applications often become more challenging with age, it is important to study how media appropriation processes unfold later in life. The present article contributes to existing research by applying the concept of transaction – developed within relational sociology – to study digital media appropriation. Using this concept, I focus on how older adults’ relations with various actors (known others, distant others, and non-human transactors) fuel the appropriation of digital devices and apps. Drawing on interviews with 22 older adults (70–94 years of age), I identify four types of appropriation processes. This shows the diversity of ways in which digital devices and apps enter the lives of older adults and the diversity of agentic roles in media appropriation. The results also reveal how a sense of coercion in media appropriation was present among the older adults, especially in relation to their children.</p>
</abstract>

Since access to and use of digital devices and applications often become more challenging with age, it is important to study how media appropriation processes unfold later in life. The present article contributes to existing research by applying the concept of transaction – developed within relational sociology – to study digital media appropriation. Using this concept, I focus on how older adults’ relations with various actors (known others, distant others, and non-human transactors) fuel the appropriation of digital devices and apps. Drawing on interviews with 22 older adults (70–94 years of age), I identify four types of appropriation processes. This shows the diversity of ways in which digital devices and apps enter the lives of older adults and the diversity of agentic roles in media appropriation. The results also reveal how a sense of coercion in media appropriation was present among the older adults, especially in relation to their children.

Relational components in the use of digital devices and apps: Mapping media appropriation processes among older adults in Sweden

Department of Childhood, Education and Society

Nordicom Review

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Since access to and use of digital devices and applications often become more challenging with age, it is important to study how media appropriation processes...

	Self-initiated and self-performed	Self-initiated and supported	Other-initiated and self-performed	Other-initiated and supported
Initiation phase	Appropriation starts as a transaction between the person and the material and broader social environment. Other known agents do not actively prompt appropriation.	Appropriation starts as a transaction between the person and the material and broader social environment. Other known agents do not actively prompt appropriation.	Appropriation starts through transactions with known others actively prompting initiation.	Appropriation starts through transactions with known others actively prompting initiation.
Purchase, installation, and initial learning phase	The person manages the appropriation process by themself, through transactions with media technology.	Other persons in everyday life support the appropriation based on the needs of the older adults, but appropriation unfolds primarily in being actively fuelled by the older adults.	The person manages the appropriation process by themself, through transactions with media technology.	The person receives support in the appropriation process by known others. These agents are active in fuelling appropriation.
Type of media device or app use	Both continuous use of devices and apps, and appropriation of new device and app uses.	Both continuous use of devices and apps, and appropriation of new device and app uses.	Mainly appropriation of new device and app uses.	Mainly appropriation of new device and app uses.

Relational components in the use of digital devices and apps: Mapping media appropriation processes among older adults in Sweden

Published Online: Dec 10, 2022

Page range: 214 - 233

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2022-0013

Keywords
media appropriation, older adults, transaction, relational sociology, digital inclusion

© 2022 Carolina Martínez, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Different types of media appropriation processes

Relational components in the use of digital devices and apps: Mapping media appropriation processes among older adults in Sweden

Published Online: Dec 10, 2022

Page range: 214 - 233

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/nor-2022-0013

Keywordsmedia appropriation, older adults, transaction, relational sociology, digital inclusion

© 2022 Carolina Martínez, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Different types of media appropriation processes

Keywords
media appropriation, older adults, transaction, relational sociology, digital inclusion