scholarly journals Bridging the digital divide: Older adults’ engagement with online cinema heritage

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 797-811
Author(s):  
Silvia Dibeltulo ◽  
Sarah Culhane ◽  
Daniela Treveri Gennari

Abstract Is there a way to ensure older adults can bridge the digital divide and engage with online cultural heritage? How can cinema-going memories encourage cross-generational engagement? This article proposes to address these issues by using the Italian Cinema Audiences research project as a case study, and specifically cinema-going memories as intangible cultural heritage (Ercole et al., 2016, Cinema heritage in Europe: preserving and sharing culture by engaging with film exhibition and audiences. Editorial. Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media, 11(Summer): 1–12. Web. ISSN: 2009-4078). It aims to tackle the difficulty of engaging the older generation with the digital world, by proposing and testing new ways to resolve it. Through a mixed-methods ethnographic approach, this article investigates different strategies: the use of social media platforms; a cross-generational activity involving Historypin, a digital, user-generated archive of crowdsourced historical material; an online dedicated archive built in collaboration with the older adults involved in the project. These different solutions aim not only at increasing digital engagement among older adults, but also at furthering younger generations’ involvement in shared cultural heritage in an online context. By focusing on the memories of cinema-going in 1950s Italy, the article explores the implications of the advantages and disadvantages of these different approaches. It also tests Anja K. Leist’s research findings (2013, Social media use of older adults: a mini-review. Gerontology, 59(4): 378–84) on the key role of moderators (the younger generation) to help novice users (the older generation) in the ‘continuous engagement’ in digital environments. We conclude that in order to bridge the digital divide two components are necessary simultaneously: the creation of digital platforms in which the older generations are both curators and users, and the support of and interaction with younger generations.

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin Careless

Social media as a communicative forum is relatively new, having been around for only ten years. However, this form of digital engagement has revolutionized the way many people interact, network, form relationships, learn, generate and share knowledge. As a noncentralized tool for communication, social media may provide space for critical discourse around issues of social justice, as discussion can be global in scope and is controlled by users themselves. This paper outlines a critical theoretical framework through which to explore the use of social media in adult education to foster such critical and social justice-themed discourse. Drawing upon five critical theorists and their work, this framework sets the stage for a future research project – one that is significant for this increasingly digital world in which we live.


Author(s):  
Kuhu Sharma ◽  
Aniruddh Verma ◽  
Pranav Sangwan ◽  
Siya Kohli ◽  
Tanvi Chakravarty

The present study draws insights from primary research, examines the existing literature on the subject and uses case studies, with a prime objective to understand the use of social media by youth for digital activism. Thereafter, the paper provides recommendations for effectively leveraging digital platforms to encourage youth participation and activism. This research paper looks at the forms of Digital activism and the ways in which the youth have leveraged digital activism to voice their issues, highlighting their motivations and challenges. To get better insight into the barriers and motivations of youth participation in digital activism, multiple stakeholder conversations and survey of Indian youth within the age group 15-25 years (93 respondents) was conducted to gauge their perception on digital activism. Primary data was collected using an online survey from 93 respondents through a structured questionnaire. Results of this study showed that close to 76.09% of the sample does not engage in digital activism, despite 93.5% of them having a social media presence.


Author(s):  
Tracii Ryan ◽  
Kelly A. Allen ◽  
DeLeon L. Gray ◽  
Dennis M. McInerney

The use of social media is rapidly increasing, and one of the major discussions of the 21st century revolves around how the use of these applications will impact on the social relationships of users. To contribute to this discussion, we present a brief narrative review highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of social media use on three key aspects of social connectedness: social capital, sense of community, and loneliness. The results indicate that using social media can increase social capital, lead to the formation of friendships and communities, and reduce loneliness. However, some social media site users may experience weakening friendships, online ostracism, and heightened loneliness. Therefore, we argue that the use of social media has contradictory effects on social connectedness. Moreover, the direction of these outcomes is contingent upon who is using the site and how they are using it. Based on these arguments, possible directions for future research are discussed. It is recommended that discourse be continued relating to the association between online social behaviour and connectedness, as this will enable researchers to establish whether the positive outcomes of social media use outweigh the negative.


Author(s):  
Lesley Farmer

Adolescents live in a technology-enhanced world. However, significant subpopulations lack physical and intellectual access to digital technologies. Content and communications providers format and disseminate information in a variety of ways. In response, teens who use technology tend to employ a variety of platforms, choosing the tool to match the content and purpose. Social media has been the technology of choice for teenagers, leveraging their social and creative needs. Educators of teens need to incorporate technology into their practices, providing access and opportunities for teens to optimize their technology use. Today's adolescents, ages 12 to 18, are often characterized as digital natives because many of them have grown up in a digital world. Most of them have some kind of access to technology, although the digital divide still exists. The technologies teens access and use are described in this chapter.


2020 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 131-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan House

SummaryUse of social media by people with mental health problems, and especially those who are prone to self-harm, has potential advantages and disadvantages. This poses a dilemma about how and by how much the form and content of social media sites should be regulated. Unfortunately, participation in the public debate about this dilemma has been restricted and high-profile discussion of necessary action has been focused almost entirely on how much suppression of content is justified. Professional bodies, including the Royal College of Psychiatrists, should be doing much more than they are to shape how the debate is conducted.


2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 205630511878477 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia Rossini ◽  
Jeff Hemsley ◽  
Sikana Tanupabrungsun ◽  
Feifei Zhang ◽  
Jennifer Stromer-Galley

Political campaigns’ use of digital technologies has been a topic of scholarly concern for over two decades, but most studies have been focused on analyzing the use of digital platforms without considering contextual factors of the race, like public opinion polls. Opinion polls are an important information source for citizens and candidates and provide the latter with information that might drive strategic communication. In this article, we explore the relationship between the use of social media in the 2016 US presidential elections and candidates’ standing in public opinion polls, focusing on the surfacing and primary stages of the campaign. We use automated content analysis to categorize social media posts from all 21 Republican and Democratic candidates. Results indicate that a candidate’s performance in the polls drives certain communicative strategies, such as the use of messages of attacks and advocacy, as well as the focus on personal image.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 17-32
Author(s):  
Sumarie Roodt ◽  
Roberto Viola

With the emergence of Web 2.0, new online trends and technologies will continually emerge and play an increasingly important role in the way businesses operate. As Web 2.0 has revolutionised the internet by shifting from a published web to a user centric, user-generated web, businesses needed to understand how to change and adapt in order to benefit from these changes. This paper analyses organisations across a variety of industries, in order to determine how Web 2.0 is influencing the way companies conduct business – how they benefit, and what the advantages and disadvantages are. The authors will try to determine whether the traditional business models are changing or simply evolving through the utilisation of Web 2.0 technologies. This research contributes to the body of knowledge regarding the use of social media in commercial organisations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1661-1674 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arcelio Benetoli ◽  
Timothy F Chen ◽  
Parisa Aslani

Consumers are increasingly using social media to interact with other consumers about health conditions and treatment options. This study aimed to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of using social media for health-related purposes from the consumers’ perspectives. Five focus groups with 36 Australian adults with a chronic condition and on medication were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and thematically analysed. Consumers reported that social media was very convenient, for accessing health-related information and for peer engagement; user-friendly; improved their health knowledge; empowered them; and provided social and emotional support. The disadvantages included information overload, wasting time; negative feelings; doubts about online information credibility; and issues related to online interactions. Despite some disadvantages, health-related use of social media led consumers to feel supported, knowledgeable, and empowered. Consumers’ motivation to keep accessing social media for health-related purposes opens up avenues for the delivery of services via social media.


JMIR Aging ◽  
10.2196/23826 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e23826
Author(s):  
Madeline Han ◽  
Xin Yi Tan ◽  
Rachael Lee ◽  
Jeong Kyu Lee ◽  
Rathi Mahendran

Background The worldwide spread of digitalization has led to the harnessing of technology to improve health outcomes. Paying attention to older adults’ social needs via social media is one way to promote healthy aging. Although 56% of older adults are smartphone users, little is known about their use patterns of social media. Objective This exploratory study aims to determine the experiences of social media apps’ use among older adults in Singapore and understand their perceptions of its impact on health-related outcomes. Methods This study used a qualitative research design with an interpretative approach. Using maximum variation purposive sampling, normal aging older adults (N=16) who were aged between 60 and 80 years and experienced in the use of internet-enabled technology were recruited from an existing community study. Semistructured, in-depth interviews were conducted. Employing a thematic analysis, interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed for codes inductively. Results The following themes and subthemes were identified as key moderators of older adults’ experiences on social media apps: (1) personal attitudes: participants were encouraged to use social media due to the increased accessibility, which enabled the ease of contact, but perceptions that the quality of interactions was compromised and its associated risks reduced their use; and (2) social influences: the desire to bond with co-users and the availability of support increased use. In addition, use of social media apps was perceived to positively impact health through its ability to keep older adults cognitively engaged, improve health communication, and increase social connectedness. However, opinions remained mixed on older adults’ vulnerability to social media addiction. Conclusions Personal and social contexts determine older adults’ social media use. This study’s findings provide practical insights into how social media can be deployed to improve health-related outcomes in older adults.


2022 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristiina Tammisalo ◽  
Mirkka Danielsbacka ◽  
Emilia Andersson ◽  
Antti O. Tanskanen

Older adults have recently begun to adopt social media in increasing numbers. Even so, little is known about the factors influencing older adults’ social media adoption. Here, we identify factors that predict the use of social media among older adults (aged 68–73) and compare them to those of their adult children (aged 19–56) using population-based data from Finland. As predictors for social media use, we utilized demographic factors as well as characteristics of the respondents’ social lives. In addition, we test whether social media use in older adults is predicted by the social media use of their adult children. The data used in this study uniquely enable the study of this question because actual parent-child dyads are identifiable. In both generations, women and those with higher education were more likely to use social media. Predictors specific to men of the older generation were being divorced and younger, and predictors specific to women of the older generation were having better health and more frequent contact with friends. A higher number of children predicted use in both men and women in the older generation. As for the younger generation, specific predictors for social media use in women were younger age, divorce, higher number of children, and more frequent contact with friends. For men in the younger generation, there were no significant predictors for social media use besides higher education, which predicted social media use in all groups. Finally, social media use in a parent representing the older generation was predicted by the social media use of their adult children. This study provides novel information on the predictors of the use of social media in two family generations.


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