Researchers Warn of a Dark Side to Digitalization

For many older people, BankID is no longer simply a convenient digital service. As alternatives disappear, it can feel like a requirement for functioning as a citizen, researchers say.

Mia-Marie Hammarlin, a lecturer in media and communication studies at Lund University, examined the relationship between BankID and older users in a study based on interviews with 22 people whose average age was 81. She identified two broad groups: those who feel comfortable with the technology and those who find it complicated, risky and difficult to master.

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One would like to see a little more humility from the banks.

The difference, she argues, is larger than the picture often presented by banks and public authorities. "BankID is often described as simple and secure. But for many older people, it is something they feel forced to use in order to function as citizens," Hammarlin said.

The study found that insecurity was particularly linked to fears of fraud. Some participants felt that responsibility for security had shifted from banks to themselves. Hammarlin said some people write passwords on slips of paper because they easily forget their codes, a practice that can increase the risks.

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The conclusion is that the more important this service becomes to society, the greater the consequences for those who feel they do not really master it.

Others avoid obtaining BankID altogether to reduce their exposure to fraud. Relatives and friends, described by researchers as "warm experts," often provide the practical support: children, grandchildren, partners or friends who help older people use digital services and BankID.

Hammarlin called for greater humility from banks, which have played a dominant role in developing digital identification. She also urged longer opening hours at branches and the preservation of analog routes. Moa Petersen, an associate professor of digital cultures at Lund University, likewise says digitalization has a dark side, though the supplied article ends before detailing her research.

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BankID is often described as simple and secure. But for many older people, it is something they feel forced to use in order to function as citizens.