Between connection and isolation

Rezumat

This narrative review synthesizes evidence from 2015 to 2024 on how excessive technology use affects older adults’ physical health, mental well-being, and social adaptation in the post-pandemic context. The accelerated digitalization triggered by COVID-19 changed how older adults access information, maintain social connections, and use health services. While technology helped reduce isolation and enabled telemedicine, its excessive use has been linked to physical inactivity, sleep disturbances, techno-anxiety, and a shift toward online-only interaction. A comprehensive search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar yielded 742 records; after applying eligibility criteria, 64 empirical studies and 8 review articles were included. Findings reveal a dual dynamic: moderate, purposeful use supports cognitive stimulation, access to care, and perceived social connection. In contrast, excessive use contributes to sedentarism, anxiety, fragmented sleep, information overload, and decreased offline community participation. Digital inequality, in terms of access, affordability, and skills, remains a key structural barrier. The article proposes a practical framework of Digital Hygiene for Older Adults and outlines policy and service recommendations, including equitable digital infrastructure, age-friendly digital literacy programs, and integrated medico-social approaches to balance online and offline engagement.