Relationship between Social Networks and Digital Divide in Thai Elderly

Abstract

This study comprises two research objectives as follows: (1) to survey the relationship between Internet use and social networks among Thai elderly, and (2) to propose policy recommendations to reduce the digital divide among elderly Thais. A quantitative research methodology was employed with the 7th wave of the World Values Survey conducted in Thailand as the main data set. The sample included Thai elderly aged 60 years and older from all regions of Thailand with a sample size of 288 selected by multi-stage systematic random sampling. Statistics in the research included frequency and percentage, employed to explain the basic information of each variable, and a hierarchical logistic regression technique, used to analyze the correlations between Internet use and social networks after controlling for demographic factors. The research results indicated that the sampled Thai elderly who have social networks, namely those who are a member of a temple, church, or religious organization, or a sports and recreational organization, or those who obtain news and information through conversation with peers or acquaintances, were more likely to be Internet users than those who do not have social networks. These findings could be converted into policy in order to increase the opportunities for the elderly to access the Internet, especially among the elderly with low socioeconomic status and educational attainment in both urban and rural areas by utilizing the existing social networks and strong ties among the Thai elderly.