Media Transitions in Later Life: A Seven-Year Longitudinal Study of Digital Pioneers in Romania

Abstract

This study analyzes media transitions and media displacements in later life, examining the role of social disruptions, specifically the COVID-19 pandemic, and two key life transitions: retirement and widowhood. It focuses on early internet adopters, pioneers in their country at the outset of the study. Using a longitudinal design, a sample of 252 Romanian internet users aged 60+ provided data across four waves (2016, 2018, 2020, and 2023). Findings reveal distinct media transitions: traditional media use remained stable, while digital media consumption increased, particularly in digital interpersonal communication. Additionally, displacement occurred between traditional and digital mass media, but not in digital interpersonal communication media. Results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in shaping these dynamics, whereas retirement and widowhood did not. These findings offer new insights into how later-life media transitions might be influenced by societal events and personal life changes.