Interdependent Navigation and Pragmatic Disengagement: How Older Korean Immigrants Selectively Engage with Digital Technologies
This study reframes the digital non-use of older Korean immigrants not as a skill deficit but as a culturally grounded strategy of "pragmatic disengagement" and "interdependent navigation" that prioritizes dignity and family obligations, offering new design directions for relational infrastructure in CSCW.
Original paper licensed under CC BY 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This is an AI-generated explanation of the paper below. It is not written or endorsed by the authors. For technical accuracy, refer to the original paper. Read full disclaimer
This paper tells the story of "How do older Korean immigrants live wisely in the digital world?"
Generally, we think, "If older people cannot use smartphones, it is because they lack technical skills." However, this study presents a completely different perspective. It states, "They are not unable to use them; rather, they choose not to use them."
To help you easily understand this complex research, I will explain it with several interesting analogies.
1. Core Concepts: "Digital Climbers" and "Safe Walks"
The 22 older Korean immigrants who participated in this study are like climbers ascending the vast mountain of digital technology. However, they do not try to reach the mountain peak (a state of knowing all functions). Instead, they choose to walk only the paths that feel most comfortable and safe to them.
The researchers gave this phenomenon two wonderful names.
① Pragmatic Disengagement: "I won't climb the exhausting mountain"
When they think, "This function is too complicated," "This will upset me," or "This might cause a big problem if I make a mistake," they consciously decide not to use that function at all.
- Analogy: It is like going to a delicious restaurant but finding the menu too complicated and ordering too stressful, so you say, "I'll just drink some water and leave."
- Real Examples:
- Online Banking: "Sending money is convenient, but if a problem arises, I can't read the English explanations to solve it? It's safer to go directly to the bank and talk to a person." Thinking this, they do not use it at all.
- Political News: If political news on YouTube is too noisy and full of fighting, they think, "My head hurts. I'll just turn it off," and do not watch it at all.
- AI Robots: When thinking, "Can a robot be my friend? Does it have a soul?" they reject it by saying, "No, that doesn't fit my culture."
This is not due to a lack of technical skills, but a wise choice to protect their mental health and dignity.
② Interdependent Navigation: "A ship traveling together"
They do not try to solve everything alone. Instead, they board a ship shared with family, neighbors, and friends. Digital competence is not something possessed by an individual "me," but is shared within the relationship of "us."
- Analogy: It is not navigating an unfamiliar sea alone, but traveling together on a ship with children or friends.
- Real Examples:
- KakaoTalk: "I send photos to my grandchild, and if I send a photo of a broken faucet, my grandchild tells me how to fix it."
- Asking for Help: "If I keep asking my son, who is too busy, I feel sorry, so it is more comfortable for my heart to pay a 30,000 won tip and call a telecom company employee." (Spending money to avoid damaging family relationships)
This is not "because I can't," but the wisdom of solving things together to preserve love and respect (face, sensitivity) within the family.
2. Why does this happen? (Three Barriers)
There are three main reasons why these individuals avoid the digital world.
- The Language Barrier (English): When English menus appear asking, "What is this button?" or "Where do I put the password?" they get flustered and simply give up. It is like leaving a restaurant that only speaks a foreign language without even looking at the menu.
- The Algorithm's Trick (Recommendation Systems): YouTube keeps recommending, "Watch this, watch this!" but among these are fake news or overly sensational content. When they think, "This does not match my values," they ignore the algorithm and search directly for what they want.
- Burden on Family: Out of fear that "my children might get annoyed if I keep asking," they choose not to use it at all.
3. The Message This Study Gives Us
The conclusion of this paper is very warm and important.
- Older immigrants are not "unable" but "choosing": The fact that they do not use smartphones well is not due to a lack of technical education, but because they intentionally keep their distance to protect their cultural values and emotional stability.
- Technology is for "us," not just for "me": When teaching digital technology, we should not force them to "do everything alone." Instead, we must create an environment where "family helps together, and mistakes are okay."
- Respect is most important: This means "technology must be created in the way they want (e.g., easy menus in Korean, systems where family helps)."
In Summary
This paper says that "older Korean immigrants are not swimming alone through the rough waves of the digital world; rather, they are riding a small boat with family and friends, choosing only the safe routes where they can travel most comfortably."
Their "not using" is not a failure, but a wise strategy to protect their lives wisely. Technology companies and governments must understand this wisdom and create a boat (design) that they can ride comfortably.
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