Proceedings of the 8th World Conference on Research in Education
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Digital Literacy of the Elderly Group in Thailand Amidst the Current Digital Scams and Fake News Situation
Kamolrat Intaratat, Piyachat Lomchavakarn, Supaporn Sridee, Hareuthai Panyavutthakul, Wasin Panyavutthaku, Duangkamol Intaratat
ABSTRACT:
This study focus on a critical digital knowledge and skills gap among the marginalized elderly group whom currently reported to be one among the top high risked groups from digital scams in Thailand. From the relevant statistics found a big gap between gerontology and digital literacy under the rapid digitalization of Thai society. Statistics as well as the tangible evidences found quite a limited access and low digital literacy among all the elderly group. The study focus to explore the digital knowledge and skills integrated with the digital scams literacy. Mixed-methods approach was used among the 150 elderly group via surveys, focus group discussions, and a key informant interviews. The key informants are the educators, the community leaders, the development workers and the government representatives. Results found that even the elderly group gained more access to digital tools but they still gain quite less digital literacy together with a reliance on traditional media sources. The research also found a significant gap among all the relevant stakeholders in facilitating and empowering all kinds of appropriated digital knowledge and skills holistically. This study also contributes to more tangible guideline among all the relevant stakeholders to be more collaborate and work like a partner among the key sectors: the elderly, digital literacy, digital scams and fake news. Besides the new skills of digital entrepreneurs aim to facilitate more income-generating opportunities also one among the highly demands.
keywords: Digital Literacy, Digital Scams, the Elderly