Media Literacy of Older Adults: Challenges for Social and Digital Inclusion of the Twenty-First Century in Loja-Ecuador

Bethy-Esther Freire-Elizalde, Marcelo León Castro, Erika Lucía González-Carrión and Alejandro Villegas-Muro
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Bethy-Esther Freire-Elizalde: National University of Loja
Marcelo León Castro: Ecotec University
Erika Lucía González-Carrión: National University of Loja
Alejandro Villegas-Muro: Universidad Estatal Peninsula de Santa Elena

A chapter in Health Technologies and Demographic Challenges, 2025, pp 335-341 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract Today, the skills to navigate and understand the media are important, as the media world is increasingly dominated by digitalization. The main objective of the study was to determine the level of media skills of older adults from the International United Pentecostal Church of Ecuador (IPUIE) in Loja. Methodologically, a qualitative approach was adopted, using observation sheets and interviews as data collection techniques. Media skills levels were assessed through observation of 45 randomly and conveniently selected older adults. The findings revealed a significant digital divide due to a lack of technological knowledge and socioeconomic barriers, limiting some older adults’ access to mobile devices. Most older adults face challenges in navigating the digital environment, and it was concluded that the lack of skills in media management and fear of technology are elements that restrict the active participation of the elderly in the digital society.

Keywords: Media literacy; Media competence; Digital inclusion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:prbchp:978-3-031-94901-2_27

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-94901-2_27

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