STRIVERS, MAINTAINERS, ACHIEVERS: NETWORKED TRAJECTORIES OF OLDER ADULTS LEARNING TO USE TECHNOLOGY DURING A PANDEMIC

While research has explored digital divides in older adults’technology skills and uses and in their communication uptake during the pandemic, we lack anunderstanding of the on-the-ground experiences and trajectories of older adults seeking toadopt digital technologies to maintains social connection during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whatbalance of independence and interdependence do older adults seek and experience as theyattempt to take up new devices and applications, such as tablets and video chat, during aperiod of physical distancing? I introduce “strivers,” “achievers,” and “maintainers” todescribe different experiences of in(ter)dependence that emerged at the intersection oftechnology use and physical distancing for participants during and after the technologytraining program. Independence is reflected among those who were able to translate providedtechnology resources into an expanded social presence during the pandemic. Interdependencerelates to those who became even more dependent on others, with the addition of neededtechnology support, while aspiring to replace offline relationships with those promisedthrough digital technologies. Simultaneously, by declaring oneself “not lonely despite beingalone,” others declared independence despite failing to realize the promise of digitaltechnology as a stand-in for in-person connection. Research on older adults and digitaltechnology can benefit from examining not only the possession of digital skills and supportfor technology use, but also the meanings that older adults bring to their experiences ofinclusion and exclusion as they adapt to digital technologies while aging – and sheltering –in place.