Author(s):
Ribeiro, Renato Mendonça ; Menezes, João Daniel de Souza ; Pompeo, Daniele Alcalá ; Diniz, Maria Angélica Andreotti ; Lima, Gabriella Santos ; Ribeiro, Patrícia Cruz Pontífice Sousa Valente ; André, Júlio César ; Ribeiro, Rita de Cássia Helú Mendonça ; Rodrigues, Rosalina Aparecida Partezani ; Kusumota, Luciana
Date: 2025
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/54590
Origin: Veritati - Repositório Institucional da Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Subject(s): COVID-19; Digital health; Digital inclusion; Older adults; Technology and aging
Description
Population aging and the digital revolution have converged, creating challenges and opportunities for the social inclusion of older adults. This study examined social media usage patterns among Brazilian older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic, exploring their associations with sociodemographic factors, health, and well-being. Through an online survey with 441 participants aged 60 or older, we found that WhatsApp® and Instagram® were the most utilized platforms, with a significant increase in usage during the pandemic. Higher educational attainment and income were associated with more frequent and diverse social media use, while the presence of comorbidities positively correlated with seeking health information online. Notably, greater engagement in social media was associated with an improved perception of well-being. The results highlight the potential of social media as tools for digital inclusion, access to information, and promotion of well-being for older adults, especially in crisis contexts. However, they also reveal socioeconomic disparities in access to and use of these technologies. These findings have significant implications for public policies on digital inclusion and health promotion, suggesting the need for targeted interventions to reduce digital inequality among older adults and maximize the potential benefits of social media for active and connected aging.
