Digital literacy

Challenges and Achievements of the Senior Community in Valongo Municipality

Abstract

The digital transformation has profoundly changed the way of life and social interaction, posing new challenges to the most vulnerable communities, including the elderly population, a group generally excluded from the technological universe, running the risk of exclusion in access to information, public services, communication and civic life, areas essential for their integration into society and for the full exercise of citizenship.

The premise of this research is the idea that low digital literacy in the elderly population can be explained by the combination of sociocultural, educational and emotional factors, where, for example, the lack of opportunities for training throughout life, the fear of making mistakes regarding the use of new technologies, or even cultural beliefs that associate the loss of capabilities with the natural aging of individuals are important factors (Bastos, 2018, p. 72). In this context, the public library assumes a crucial role in mitigating information exclusion (Gómez-Hernández, 2002, pp. 229-237).

According to UNESCO (Sd), digital literacy is understood as the ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate and create information in a safe and appropriate manner through digital technologies, something essential to keep up with the digital evolution of the 21st century. Given the worrying increase in misinformation, especially digital misinformation, the growing need to train autonomous individuals with critical capacity to use information is increasingly pressing.

In a context inherited from the networked society (Castells, 1996, pp. 21-22) where enormous amounts of information circulate online and in real time at a dizzying pace, having digital literacy is essential for any citizen. The aging population, combined with rapid technological evolution, has been highlighting a generational gap in access to ICT. This fact creates barriers that hinder the full integration of the elderly into a society that seeks to be increasingly dynamic and socially active, which is why it is important to work in this area. According to Bastos (2018, pp. 66, 72), age, cognitive decline, fear of making mistakes and lack of motivation are among the main factors that limit the digital inclusion of older people.

To address this problem, libraries, as spaces open to all citizens, must be inclusive, attract audiences that are generally less considered in their activities, such as seniors, and respond to their needs. In short, as stated by Gomez-Hernández (2002, 229-231), they should not only be concerned with actual readers, but also with potential ones. In the current context, public libraries, as educational and democratic institutions, have been called upon to take on new roles, namely that of spaces that facilitate digital inclusion, where the Information Professional (IP) acts as a mediator, educator and agent of transformation (Braga, 2013).

Given this framework, the objectives of this research carried out at the Valongo Municipal Library are to identify the level of digital literacy of the elderly population of the municipality and to propose training actions that promote their digital inclusion, respecting the specificities and needs of the elderly.

The methodological approach is quantitative and descriptive and the data collection technique is a questionnaire administered to the aforementioned elderly population with a view to analyzing their relationship with digital technologies and their mastery of them. To this end, Microsoft Forms was used, ensuring the ethical collection of the data provided by the respondents, including the provision of an informed consent form. The data were organized and analyzed using Microsoft Excel, allowing the cross-referencing of variables such as education, technological usage habits, level of autonomy, interest in training and perceptions about the usefulness of digital literacy.

The results of the questionnaires revealed that low education and the lack of technological habits constitute major obstacles to the digital literacy of the population surveyed. However, there was significant use of social networks, with the majority using Facebook and the minority using WhatsApp, which were used mainly to communicate with family members. Many participants reported difficulties in navigating official portals, with around 32% stating that they did not use any website and the National Health Service 24 being the most frequently used, although this was still used by a minority of around 22% of those interviewed. Participants also reported a lack of knowledge of basic digital security practices, namely the use of secure passwords. It is also worth noting that, although they recognize the importance of ICT training, only a minority demonstrated effective availability to attend training actions. The data point to an emotional resistance to digital learning, confirming the need for more empathetic training approaches, adjusted to the rhythms, motivations and experiences of the community under study.

Based on the research results, a proposal for a training action entitled Digital Senior: Active and Safe was developed, adapted to the profile of the target population, practical, accessible and interactive, with content oriented to the specific needs of the elderly population of the Municipality of Valongo. The training is structured in 5 thematic modules, aiming to promote digital inclusion, encourage continuous learning and, simultaneously, contribute to the safety and digital autonomy of the elderly population. The content covers everything from the basic use of computers and cell phones to safe browsing on the internet and social networks, in addition to access to online public services, prioritizing the direct experience of the trainees, repetition and individual monitoring.

In conclusion, the research confirms that it is important for municipal libraries to know the profile of their users in order to better serve them, and to act as spaces for continuous learning, which are essential to combating information exclusion and promoting digital literacy as a fundamental right for the most vulnerable segments of the population. Thus, the role of IP, in this context, will be strengthened as an agent of social change, with a direct impact on the quality of life and active citizenship of the elderly population.