노인의 유튜브 활용을 통한 무형식학습 경험의 의미 탐색

Background: Korea's demographic trajectory towards a super-aged society by 2025 underscores the critical importance of continuous learning for enhancing the well-being of its elderly population. Given South Korea's advanced IT infrastructure, evidenced by 84.4% smartphone penetration among those aged 70+ and 44% engaging with video services in 2024, there is a compelling need to investigate older adults' experiences with YouTube as an accessible digital learning platform. Purpose: This study aims to meticulously analyze the YouTube usage experiences of older adults, thereby elucidating the distinct patterns and intrinsic meanings of digital media-based informal learning. Ultimately, this research seeks to foster a deeper understanding of older adults' self-directed learning endeavors and to furnish foundational insights for expanding the scope of informal learning within lifelong education paradigms. Method: Utilizing a basic qualitative research methodology, the study conducted in-depth interviews with five elderly participants who reported engaging with YouTube at least three times per week. Findings: Participants largely initiated their YouTube engagement through incidental exposure. Their primary motivations for platform utilization encompassed leisure pursuit, entertainment, and self-directed knowledge acquisition. Information gleaned from YouTube proved highly beneficial for practical daily living, concurrently fostering emotional well-being and a heightened sense of social connection. Intriguingly, the YouTube experience was perceived by these older adults as fundamentally integrated into 'life itself,' paralleling the significance of personal relationships with friends and family. Implications: This study illuminates the profound positive influence of digital-based informal learning on the lives of older adults, establishing itself as a significant foundational resource for the practical expansion of lifelong education. The findings suggest that informal learning through YouTube, beyond traditional institutional education, can substantially contribute to older adults' overall life satisfaction by providing practical support, facilitating self-identity formation in later life, and mitigating feelings of loneliness. Consequently, these research outcomes are anticipated to offer invaluable foundational data for the strategic design and implementation of YouTube-based educational programs tailored specifically for the elderly.