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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The advances of the Network Society and the dissemination of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are associated with potential phenomena of exclusion, such as a set of skills and predispositions less present among older generations – the so-called digital immigrants. Despite the difficulties widely portrayed in the literature, it appears that in addition to the growing adherence of seniors to ICT and the internet, older people are gradually appropriating social networks and digital tools to give voice to content channels starting to stand out as digital influencers. Using an exploratory approach, this research aims to study the Instagram profile and analyze the posts of the top two most popular elderly women digital influencers: @Baddie Winkle (4 million followers and considered, in 2020, by Forbes one of the most influential people on the network) and @Iris Apfel (2 million followers).
For this purpose, a qualitative methodology was carried out, where thought a content analysis of the posts, we examined several dimensions such as: the topics covered, the signs, the tone of communication and the audiovisual and multimedia resources used to create interaction and engagement with followers.
In total 47 posts were analyzed. The results show that fashion and arts are the central themes of Baddie and Iris posts, allied to the rupture of the image of weakness and fragility of seniors, punctuated by a communication full of humor, fun, grace, and some emotional tone. Artistic photography is the dominant visual resource, some of them in a sponsorship format. In addition to the high (young) number of followers that senior influencers have, there is a high engagement with followers who interact mostly through likes, views, and comments. In relation to these last ones, it is verified the presence of an extremely positive and friendly feedback marked by respect and admiration.
Description
Keywords
Elderly influencers Digital influencers Social networks Instagram
Citation
Miranda, S., Antunes, A., Gama,A. (2022). Challenging old paradigms about aging and social networks: Seniors as social influencers. In R. Pocinho, C. Margarido, R. Santos, L. Marques, B. Trindade, S. Silva & S. Gordo (coords.), Paradigmas do envelhecimento (pp. 35-49). ANGES.
Publisher
ANGES - Associação Nacional de Gerontologia Social