How Intergenerational Communication affects Elder Digital Heritage Awareness: A Mixed Method Approach

Abstract

There is now the global phenomenon of an aging society and elders are taking up a greater part of our population. As the older adults in our society are growing in digital literacy, which is the ability to operate digital technologies, there is a rising need to manage digital assets that they leave behind. This study uses a mixed methods approach of MDPQ-16 questionnaire and semi-structured interviews to investigate the affecting factors of digital literacy and legacy. The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 34 older adults, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with two elders. This study focuses on factors contributing to the awareness of digital legacy and raises understanding of barriers in recognizing our digital afterlife in an aging society.