Mediating Digital Security: Participatory Learning with Older Adults in Smartphone Café Sessions

This study examines how older adults engage with digital technologies, focusing on privacy, security, and participation. Through community-based workshops, we explore usability challenges, fears around online risks, and the role of social learning. Our findings reveal how mediators help older adults navigate digital tools through trust-based support and peer learning. We argue that digital inclusion requires more than accessible design; it also depends on social infrastructures that enable confidence and shared problem-solving. This work contributes to participatory design (PD) by highlighting the value of mediated learning and community-driven support in fostering digital literacy among marginalized aging populations.