Digital defender 60+: Perspectives on digital literacy for the elderly
M. Pinheiro
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AbstractThe impact of new information and communication technologies on the aging population is becoming more evident. It is leading to exclusion from family or social activities, which can limit the exercise of basic human rights (Gendron, 2022). To combat this issue, The Public Defender's Office of the State of Amazonas partnered with FUnATI to promote the rights of vulnerable populations and conduct research on aging. As a result of this collaboration, the Digital Defender 60+ course was created. This course aims to train older adults in new concepts and practices required for citizenship in an increasingly digital world (Zuboff, 2019) such as: basic notions for handling smartphones and accessing public services in Brazil; teachings on misinformation, its spread, and its harmful effects; some concepts about image and voice manipulation (deepfake); specificities of new media (Woolley, 2020); issues concerning privacy and responsibility in the use of digital tools, for example. After acquiring this knowledge, it is expected that older adults will be able to return to their respective communities and share it with others.Keywords: elderly, technology, ageism, literacy, empowerment
M. Pinheiro (2024). Digital defender 60+: Perspectives on digital literacy for the elderly. Gerontechnology, 23(2), 1-1
https://doi.org/10.4017/gt.2024.23.s.951.opp