Reducing perceived digital technology risk
Understanding the risks and concerns that can prevent older adults from engaging confidently with digital technology
This Shaping Connections project explored how older adults perceive risk when using digital technology and how those perceptions influence confidence, participation and engagement.
​
Working with older adults across Victoria, the research examined the lived experiences, language and concerns behind perceived digital risk, moving beyond assumptions about what prevents people from engaging with technology
Why this research matters
Perceived risk is not necessarily the same as actual risk. It reflects a person's beliefs about potential harm or loss and their judgement about how likely or serious that harm might be.
​
Understanding these perceptions matters because concerns about privacy, financial loss, making mistakes, social judgement or even physical harm can influence whether and how older adults engage with digital technology.
Instead of assuming the needs of seniors, our approach is to actually go out and co-create and work with them to figure out what problems they have and how technology innovations help them meet their goals and improve their wellbeing.
Dr Torgeir Aleti
How this research was conducted
1
Researchers interviewed 22 older adults from urban and rural Victoria about the risks they associated with technology. The interviews were developed into video vignettes capturing participants' experiences and language.
Interviews and video vignettes
2
Survey
The interviews informed a survey developed with the U3A community to explore technology risk perceptions, motivations and behaviours.
3
Analysis
Interview and survey findings were analysed to identify and consolidate different perceptions of digital technology risk.
What we learned
The research identified a broad range of concerns through interviews with older adults, which were initially grouped into five risk categories. Further analysis of the interview findings and survey data identified six underlying risk factors that help explain how perceptions of digital technology risk can influence older adults’ confidence and engagement.
Six risk factors
1. Operational and functional risk
Forgetting instructions or passwords, struggling to keep up or feeling that technology wastes time.
​
2. Personal and social risk
Feeling incompetent, overwhelmed or frustrated, or worrying about being judged or ridiculed.
​
3. Privacy and transaction risk
Concerns about online payments, privacy, identity theft and automatic transactions.
​4. Purchase transaction risk
Fear of making mistakes, not receiving goods or encountering processing errors.
​
5. Overspending risk
Concerns about spending too much online or escalating software, upgrade and device costs.
​
6. Physical harm risk
Concerns including physical inactivity, technology dependence, eyesight and strain injuries.
Explore the research insights
Interviews with older adults revealed how perceptions of digital risk can appear through everyday beliefs, feelings and behaviours.
Five risk categories
Explore older adults' experiences of perceived digital risk across five broad categories.
One of the benefits of doing this kind of ethnographic work is that you can understand what is really behind those analytics, what are the real feelings, thoughts and motivations and concerns.
Prof Dianne Martin, Shaping Connections Associate Investigator
Research impact
The research demonstrated that barriers to digital participation extend beyond access and technical ability. Older adults' engagement with technology can also be influenced by perceptions of financial, functional, social, psychological, privacy and physical risk.
​
By grounding these risks in older adults' lived experiences, the project provided a stronger evidence base for designing digital inclusion initiatives with older adults rather than making assumptions about their needs.
Building on this research
Senior Connectedness
This project built on earlier Shaping Connections research exploring technology, social connectedness and digital inclusion among older Australians. Senior Connectedness highlighted how confidence, relationships and trusted support influence technology engagement. Explore the Senior Connectedness project.
​
The Perceived Digital Technology Risks research examined these barriers more deeply, identifying the fears, concerns and perceptions that can shape older adults' digital participation. The findings confirmed the need to move from understanding barriers to co-designing practical responses with older adults.
This project was funded by the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN), in partnership with RMIT’s School of Business and Law/School of Economics, Finance and Marketing and The University of the Third Age.
