Toward global digital literate citizens: A case of Thailand's aging generation

Abstract

AbstractDigital technology offers solutions for enhancing older adults' wellbeing. Older adults need digital knowledge and skills to ensure the quality of life, increase cognitive engagement in daily routines, and better connection with loved ones. Thailand is moving toward a knowledge‐based economy, and the Thai government has declared interest in digital ecosystem development. Therefore, emphasis must be placed on the older adults and other underprivileged living in remote areas. However, to date, there are few comprehensive studies on the levels of digital competency and on how older adults accept and use digital technologies. For this reason, this paper constructed a model demonstrating the digital literacy competency among Thai older adults in rural areas. The exploratory research examined the older adults' digital competencies through 97 interviews. Moreover, the results revealed the existing competency gap. The top three desired digital competencies were safety, communication and collaboration, and information and data literacy. Examining these findings nurtures the formation of digital literacy competency from the needs of older adults. Thus, the results contribute to scholarship on workable digital literacy curriculum development designed especially for older adults and help Thailand achieve its vision of “Digital Thailand” that all Thais will become digitally literate.