Skills

Over 55 increasingly social. The web becomes a commodity

Seven out of ten seniors are on the platforms. 67% are familiar with generative AI and 34% use it. The training node

by Serena Uccello

1 May 2026

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Report numbers
New support
Study macro-areas

4' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Although we are still a long way from the European target of having 80 per cent of the population between the ages of 16 and 74 with digital skills, the share of 54.3% just reached, as recorded by the latest survey on Citizens and ICT by Istat, is reassuring. And it is even more so if we analyse the spread of digital on a demographic target hitherto considered to be struggling, namely seniors.

The report numbers

The numbers from Polimi's Digital Innovation Observatory are needed to frame the approach to the digital world of the over-55 generation. It turns out that seven out of ten Italians over 55 use social media, 35% make online purchases independently and another 8% with the help of family or friends. A generation, then, that surprisingly turns out to be decidedly at ease with innovation. Starting with their interest in the most disruptive of the revolutions in progress: 67% of Italian seniors, in fact, know the generative Ai and 34% have already used it, especially ChatGpt. It is particularly the over-55s who live with their children who are the most predisposed (63%), thus confirming how intergenerational exchange facilitates knowledge and adoption of new technologies. As for motivations, among those who use Ai tools, the main ones concern the possibility of accessing the service at any time (47%) and quick response (38%).

"For everyone, digital technologies (and artificial intelligence above all) represent a concrete opportunity to support everyday life and to maintain wellbeing, autonomy and participation throughout life," the researchers explain. And Italian seniors, contrary to common sense, are anything but undigitalised'.

In general, it is an interest that is based ongood knowledge, and although age and education are the two variables that most influence the declared level of skills, a significant proportion of seniors claim to have the necessary skills in several areas: 59% in messaging apps, 53% in online searches, 43% in using e-mail, 37% in online payments and 23% in using tools such as Word or Excel.

However, there is no lack of anxieties and fears, the most widespread concern being the fear of a digital divide based precisely on age: 50 per cent of the over-55s fear that they will be disadvantaged or excluded from services if they do not keep up with innovation, 72 per cent are afraid that it will become difficult to distinguish real content from Ai-generated content, and finally 72 per cent have a cautious attitude, fearing that digital technologies will generate social isolation.

A new support

In any case, digital is perceived and experienced as a new crutch in view of ageing. If needs increase, digital technology can provide answers to some of them. This is how the assessment of Polimi's Longevity & Silver Economy Observatory comes into play, which has developed a model in five macro-areas (from health to autonomy and security, from the management of economic resources to social relations and active participation in society), each of which identifies groups of needs linked to longevity. Not all of them have a marked digital penetration yet.

The macro-areas of the study

This certainly includes the macro area 'health, care and wellbeing', which concerns physical health care and mental health, disease prevention and management. In this context, the uptake of digital tools is still low among the over-55 population, "but more significant for those livingwith chronic conditions that affect everyday life and for which the impact on quality of life is potentially greater," the researchers note. Interestingly, 19% of the over-55s said they had participated in personalised prevention programmes.

In the area of 'security, autonomy and accessibility', digital innovation is confirmed as a necessary tool for independence, even though domotics systems are only widespread among 10% of the over-55s, and to a greater extent among those who have children living away from home. More widespread is the use in the area of 'finance and wealth': here innovation becomes a tool to protect one's capital. And so 13% of over-55s make use of a financial advisor to support the management of their savings; among those who do not make use of one, the conviction that they can manage their decisions autonomously prevails (55%) and the perception of excessive costs compared to the benefits (25%). 7% of seniors adhere to forms of supplementary pensions, mainly 55-64 year olds. However, only 2 per cent participate in financial education, highlighting, it is noted, how a part of the needs is latent or not fully structured.

A macro-area that is still poorly monitored is that of 'personal fulfilment and expression', which includes the need for self-fulfilment, 'bringing skills, interests and motivation to bear even in the mature stages of life'. In this case, 'the census of projects of public and Third Sector entities reveals above all initiatives for continuing education, cultural participation and enhancement of the active contribution of seniors in the community (73 per cent of the total). This also includes the issue of work participation for those who are still active,' it is finally emphasised.

Serena Uccellovicecaposervizio
- @serenauccello
Luogo: milano
Argomenti: Cultura, letteratura, social media editor
Premi: Marco Formenton, Indicam, Città di Como
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