ArticlePloS one2026
Intergenerational patterns of digital use: Evidence from a large cross-sectional study.
Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
This study aims to determine the level of digital use across six generations (Greatest, Silent, Baby Boomers, and Generations X, Y and Z) within a district in North East England (population ~200,000). A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted via an online and paper-based survey from February to May 2022, mailed to households in the district (N = 98,260). Respondents estimated their weekly use of digital tools and the internet at home. One-way ANOVA and Tukey-Kramer HSD tests were used to analyse differences in digital resource uses across six generations. To account for underlying sociodemographic characteristics, a follow-up ANCOVA analysis was also performed. Content Analysis was used for qualitative responses from an open-ended survey question. A total of 9,181 completed surveys were analysed. The sample was skewed towards older, homeowner adults (mean age 63, 60% female). Findings revealed that respondents spend less time online than other British cohorts. Baby Boomers and Generation X self-reported statistically significant differences in the level of digital use compared to all other generations. Younger generations (Y and Z) self-reported, on average, a larger amount of time spent on both digital tools and the internet. Members of Greatest and Silent Generations had the lowest hours spent on digital tools and the internet. The results suggest that public health initiatives should prioritise strategies bridging the digital divide between generations. Targeted training programs pairing younger, tech-savvy individuals with older adults could enhance digital literacy. Additionally, integrating user-friendly digital health platforms that cater to varying levels of technological proficiency will encourage wider adoption. These strategies not only foster intergenerational collaboration but also drive successful digital health and care transformations, ensuring equitable access to technological advancements for all age groups.
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Registered trials
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