An accessibility evaluation of social media through mobile device for elderly

Abstract

Elderly adults aged 65 years and older are considered the smallest age group among social media users due to age-related impairments and lack of technology comprehension. This paper presents a literature review and preliminary evaluation regarding the accessibility and usability issues experienced by elderly adults accessing social media through a mobile platform. The preliminary evaluation of five mobile apps using general accessibility and usability guidelines showed that there were problems with the color contrast and small button size in most of the mobile apps evaluated. In addition, pilot accessibility and usability test with the two elderly participants indicated the need for training for the elderly. Recommendations for future research directions were also presented.