Understanding Digital Immersion and Experience Across Europe: How Age Shapes Digital Engagement

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Abstract
Digital technologies (DT) are embedded in daily life, yet their impact and the experience of use vary across age groups and cultural contexts creating disparities in access, skills, and perceived benefits. This study examines how age moderates the relationship between the Quality of Digital Experience (QDE)—comprising the three dimensions of social connectedness, well-being, and time and efficiency—and Immersion in Digital Life (IDL) across six European countries. Drawing on data from 5,270 adults, moderation analyses revealed that all QDE dimensions significantly predict IDL, raising social connectedness as the strongest contributor. Age moderated these relationships differently across countries: younger adults generally showed stronger associations between QDE factors and IDL, particularly well-being, whereas in Czechia and Poland, older adults demonstrated higher levels of digital immersion. In sum, digital engagement is shaped by experiential quality, age, and cultural context rather than following a uniform generational division. These findings highlight the need for inclusive digital policies and interventions that promote digital well-being across the lifespan.