A Study on the Impact of Family and Community Support on Improving Digital Literacy among Mongolian Elderly

Abstract

With the rapid development of digital technology, the elderly face a significant digital divide in their social lives. Due to the unique geographical distribution, cultural habits, education levels, and resource accessibility of the Mongolian elderly, improving their digital literacy faces even more complex challenges. This study, focusing on family and community support, systematically analyzes the current status and existing problems of digital literacy among the Mongolian elderly, including factors such as technological cognitive barriers, psychological barriers, resource limitations, and the influence of cultural habits. By examining the influencing mechanisms of family support, community support, and their synergistic effects, multi-level improvement strategies are proposed: at the family level, guidance and companionship, psychological support, and intergenerational communication are emphasized; at the community level, systematic training, infrastructure construction, volunteer guidance, and cultural activities are prioritized; and at the policy and social level, institutional guarantees, the development of age-friendly products, and the construction of family-community collaborative mechanisms are proposed. The results show that collaborative support from families and communities can effectively improve the digital skills, life participation, and social belonging of the Mongolian elderly, providing theoretical basis and practical reference for policy formulation, community service optimization, and family education practices. It also offers feasible pathways to narrow the digital divide among the elderly in ethnic minority areas.