Government website for older people criticised

A Government-funded website set up to connect with silver surfers has been criticised by groups that deal with social exclusion.

Generation Xperience was developed by the UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as “an effective way of talking to and listening to older people in the UK... [with] great potential to reduce isolation and promote digital inclusion”, but charity Help the Aged say the site offers no practical help to those not yet online.

Anna Pearson, policy manager at Help the Aged, said: “Whilst we welcome this initiative, and think it’s a good way for people to communicate, the Government needs to think about investing more money into helping the digitally excluded get online by offering training and help.”

She referred to a recent scheme in America where over-50s were given free computer training and a $250 (£125) voucher to spend on computer equipment as a reward for participating.

Helen Milner, managing director at UK Online Centres, agreed: “If you haven’t got to grips with a mouse or keyboard, let alone an email or attachment, social networking is several steps up the technology ladder."

Pearson also pointed out that the website's basic design would have difficulty competing with established players such as Myspace and Facebook, which will soon be linked to Generation Xperience.

“Whist it’s important to have easy accessibility for those over 50, sites such as Myspace and Facebook already include this. Generation Xperience should ensure it is important not to alienate users with basic designs that could end up turning people away,” she said.

When contacted by Computeractive, the DWP disagreed with the views of the two organisations. It said that it had conducted research finding that over half of all over-50s, and three-quarters (76 per cent) of 50-64 year olds, had access to the internet, and that the design of the site was based on "established good practice".

A representative said: "Stakeholder groups such as Help the Aged and Age Concern will ensure that the views of older people who don't have access to the internet are reflected on the site. The Government also supports initiatives, such as Age Concern's Digital Inclusion Network, that are helping to get more older people online."

Generation Xperience is currently in a six-month pilot stage, after this the DWP said it will review the site's popularity and feedback of users before deciding whether to make it permanent.

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