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Appropriation work of new media by the elderly who do not possess experiences in information and communication technologies (ICT) and related support of their acquisition of media competencies are in focus of this paper. A study based on ethnography and action research aiming at examining elderly and not tech-savvy persons’ first steps in their appropriation of tablet PCs and internet applications is being provided. On the basis of socio-constructivist learning approaches we outline specific obstacles and constraints in the set-up of an appropriate learning environment for elderly ICT novices.