Harley, David, et al. "Online communities for older users: what can we learn from local community interactions to create social sites that work for older people." Proceedings of BCS HCI 2014 Sand, Sea and Sky-Holiday HCI. BCS Learning and Development Ltd., 2014.

This study investigates the impact of family and local community ties on online community engagement among older individuals in southern England. It identifies four main motivators for their participation in both local and online communities: family, roles, loss, and the concept of 'spaces and places.' While the use of social networking sites (SNS), especially Facebook, is predominantly family-oriented, other social motives emerge for engaging in various online community forms. A strong preference for in-person interactions was noted, with online platforms mainly serving as a means to facilitate these face-to-face meetings. The research suggests that enhancing community involvement could be supported through specific social and design initiatives, such as creating private 'family rooms' on Facebook, anonymous 'sharing spaces' for elders, and emphasizing hyperlocal projects to bridge local and online communities.