Whatsapp Usage Practices of Older Adults in Istanbul: A Qualitative Study

This study aims to contribute to the literature on digital communication and aging by examining the WhatsApp usage practices of individuals aged 65 and over living in Istanbul. Designed as a qualitative study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 40 participants, consisting of 26 women and 14 men. Data were collected with ethical committee approval and evaluated through descriptive analysis. The findings revealed that WhatsApp has become one of the primary digital communication tools for older adults due to its user-friendly interface, multiple communication affordances, and widespread adoption within society. Furthermore, it was found that older adults receive support from family members during the process of learning the application, and this support plays an important role in older adults’ adaptation to digital communication technologies. The study also found that older adults predominantly preferred text messaging, tended to avoid contentious topics in group chats to prevent conflicts, and limited their use of status updates due to privacy concerns. Finally, it was determined that while WhatsApp usage strengthened older adults’ social ties, it also contributed to a reduction in face-to-face communication.