Older and offline in Ireland: Navigating a pathway in a digital world

Abstract

Abstract

A substantial proportion of older adults continue to live offline despite accelerating digitalization. In Ireland in 2025, 34% of adults aged 75 years and older had never used the Internet. Yet, the experiences of those who live their lives offline, particularly their perspectives on social participation, lifelong learning, and autonomy, remain under‑examined. This Research Note presents findings from seven qualitative interviews conducted in summer 2021 with adults aged 65 years and older who self‑identified as Internet non‑users. These ‘offliners’ described meaningful social participation through in‑person groups, community activities, volunteering, and regular telephone contact, alongside informal lifelong learning embedded in everyday interactions and interests. Participants did not perceive personal benefit in adopting digital technologies for social or learning purposes. Dissatisfaction was expressed as essential public and commercial services shifted to digital‑by‑default delivery following lockdowns associated with COVID-19. Offliners reported reduced independence when required to rely on family members for online transactions, as well as feeling disadvantaged by online‑only discounts and reduced availability of counter or telephone services. These findings lend support to an overlooked issue in social and educational gerontology: while offline social and learning practices can support healthy aging, digitalization may create new forms of exclusion for those who do not, or cannot, engage online. The study highlights the need to recognize Internet non‑use as a legitimate aging pathway and underscores the importance of maintaining equitable non‑digital service channels to support autonomy, agency, and quality of life in later years.