Why Ageing is More Important than Being Old: Understanding the Elderly in a Mediatized World

The idea of distinct media generations is frequently discussed in the research literature about elderly media users. This article reviews the theoretical framework of media generations and develops a contrasting perspective that focuses on the dynamics of ageing. Its line of argument is supported empirically based on ten years of longitudinal, representative German national survey data and thirty media biographical interviews. The results indicate the fluidity of generational belonging and the importance of contextual factors to assess elderly’s media use. Finally, it is concluded that media dynamics in the lives of the elderly are best examined with a concept of media generations that is not essentially derived from birth – neither of technology, nor of people.