People 60 and over are the internet’s fastest growing demographic. Many myths surround older adults’ online behavior such as lacking in skills and being constantly duped. Yet research shows that many in this age group are savvy and are in fact less likely to fall for online scams than younger adults. In this talk, Eszter Hargittai shares some key insights from her book Wired Wisdom with John Palfrey about how older adults are incorporating digital media into their lives and what they, their support networks, policy makers, and companies can do to make these experiences more beneficial.
Bio: Eszter Hargittai is a professor and holds the Chair in Internet Use & Society in the Department of Communication and Media Research at the University of Zurich. She is the author or editor of six books, most recently, Wired Wisdom: How to Age Better Online (University of Chicago Press, 2025) co-authored with John Palfrey. Hargittai’s research focuses on the social and policy implications of digital media with a particular interest in digital inequality, how differences in people’s digital skills influence what they do online, and how these may translate into changes in life chances. Her work has received awards from numerous professional associations. She is an elected fellow of the International Communication Association where she is currently Fellows Chair, and an external member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Her research has been supported by the US National Science Foundation, the MacArthur, Sloan, Markle, Dan David, and Russell Sage Foundations, Microsoft Research, Google, Facebook, Merck, and Nokia, among others. Hargittai holds a B.A. in Sociology from Smith College and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Princeton University.
In-person attendance is open to Princeton University faculty, staff and students.
This talk will be livestreamed and recorded. The recording will be posted to the CITP website, the Princeton University Media Central channel and the CITP YouTube channel.
If you need an accommodation for a disability please contact Jean Butcher at butcher@princeton.edu