The pandemic has exploded the use of the internet among Quebec seniors: 78% of them now surf the web every day, compared to only 62% in 2019.
However, they are still far behind the provincial average of 89%.
This is revealed by the NETendances 2022 survey by the Laval University Digital Transformation Academy, published on November 30.
“We are not surprised by these statistics, because for several years, we have noticed the desire of seniors to adapt to new technologies, and the pandemic has accelerated things,” remarked Gisèle Tassé-Goodman, President of the Réseau FADOQ, an organization dedicated to Quebecers of the golden age.
Since the confinements, she has seen a jump in the popularity of the digital training workshops offered by her organization, “especially with regard to FaceTime, video calls, even online shopping”.
One of the greatest benefits of the internet connection is that it breaks the isolation, and even after the end of the confinements, the elders have kept their digital skills.
“I always give the example of a grandma sitting on the end of her kitchen table with her coffee, who is on FaceTime talking to her grandchildren, says Ms.me Tassé-Goodman, we have had testimonies like that. »
About two-thirds of those surveyed believe that the internet helps them to have social interactions (69%) and to experience better well-being (63%).
But the web is also popular as a tool for physical health. In fact, no less than 59% of seniors used it to make an appointment with a professional, renew a prescription or even take part in an online consultation. In comparison, only 31% of them had done so in 2019.
Other than that, people aged 65 and over enjoy reading the news (49% do), watching videos (41%) and browsing social media (34%).
Great disparities
However, not all citizens of the golden age benefit equally from the opportunities offered by technology.
Those earning only $20,000 a year or less lag far behind, while the majority (55%) don’t even have an internet subscription.
“If I’m making $20,000, the first question I ask myself is ‘am I going to eat all three meals in my day or am I going to pay for my medication this month?’ “, maintains Pierre Lynch, president of the Quebec Association for the defense of the rights of retired and pre-retired persons (AQDR).
According to data from the last census, no less than 302,095 Quebecers aged 65 or over live on less than $20,000 a year. This represents 18.9% of them.
Similarly, where a majority of respondents say that technology helps them break isolation, have better access to essential services and improve their well-being, only a minority of the less fortunate say the same.
Mr. Lynch says he sees a real difference between the state of seniors who have access to communications technology and those who do not. “Imagine, you’re alone in your apartment for several months and you don’t have a chance to talk to anyone,” he says. At some point, you may have television, but you are not able to exchange or mention what you are going through. »
He thinks that “the real solution is to work to increase the viable income of the majority of seniors”. He also advocates the creation of a ministry dedicated to them.
Less connected regions
Another source of inequality is the region in which one resides. “There are two realities: the urban reality and the rural reality,” explains Mr. Lynch. If you go to the rural reality, you will see that even high-speed internet access is limited to certain small islands. »
The survey seems to reflect this reality: while Montreal respondents are almost all connected (91%), those in Centre-du-Québec are only 67%.
François Legault promised in 2018 to provide high-speed internet access to all Quebec households, a project that is still in progress. “We welcome what has been done by the government, but we still have to make sure that it is completed as quickly as possible,” said Ms.me Tasse-Goodman.
The Digital Transformation Academy is a joint creation of the Government of Quebec and Laval University. 774 Quebecers aged 65 or over took part in the survey, between March and July 2022. The respondents were questioned on the internet, but also by telephone. The results were then weighted according to several demographic variables. The margin of error is 3.5%, 19 times out of 20.