Intergenerational Influence Culture

Reframing Ageing through Social Media Narratives

Authors

  • Miriam Ferraro University of Ferrara
  • Marco Luca Pedroni University of Ferrara
  • Benedetto Bramante University of Ferrara

Keywords:

Aging, Digital Storytelling, Social Media, Influence Culture, Intergenerational Communication

Abstract

This article critically examines the construction of ageing narratives within the context of social media, with a focus on how digital platforms are reshaping social perceptions of later life. Anchored in the concept of influence culture, the study investigates the emergence of elderly influencers as an extension of this phenomenon, engaging demographic groups historically excluded from digital content creation. Through an analysis of the case of Gabriella Tupini, an octogenarian psychologist active on YouTube, the article demonstrates how her media literacy, developed through alternative pathways compared to digitally native influencers, bridges generational divides and fosters innovative narratives about ageing. The research highlights the potential of social media to challenge traditional stereotypes, promote mental health, and facilitate intergenerational communication. By situating Tupini’s case within broader discussions on ageing, the article reveals the transformative capacity of digital platforms in constructing and disseminating alternative representations of later life. In doing so, it contributes to sociological discourse on ageing, offering insights into how digital media are redefining the cultural and social boundaries of later life.

Author Biographies

Miriam Ferraro, University of Ferrara

Miriam Ferraro is a PhD candidate in Human Sciences at the University of Ferrara. After collaborating with the Bruno Kessler Foundation on a research project about the future of public healthcare, she is currently conducting a study on the phenomenon of contested illnesses and on both online and local activism. She is a teaching assistant in the field of Sociology of Cultural Processes, has taken part in international conferences, and has published in academic journals. Her research interests include the sociology of health, digital narratives, and the epistemic legitimation of subaltern forms of knowledge.

Marco Luca Pedroni, University of Ferrara

Marco Pedroni is Associate Professor of Sociology of Cultural and Communicative Processes at the University of Ferrara, where he directs D/Cult (Critical Observatory on Digital Cultures). His research focuses on digital media, cultural industries, and artificial intelligence. He is the author of Coolhunting (FrancoAngeli, 2010) and Dai fashion blog all'attivismo: un'introduzione critica alla influence culture (Carocci, 2025), and co-author of Fenomenologia dei social network (Guerini, 2017).

Benedetto Bramante, University of Ferrara

Benedetto Bramante is a PhD candidate in Human Sciences at the University of Ferrara, with a focus on the Sociology of Cultural and Communicative Processes. His research explores technology, cultural consumption, and public spaces through a critical and future-oriented lens.

 

Published

2025-07-01

How to Cite

Ferraro, M., Pedroni, M. L., & Bramante, B. (2025). Intergenerational Influence Culture: Reframing Ageing through Social Media Narratives. Mediascapes Journal, 25(1), 42–60. Retrieved from https://rosa.uniroma1.it/rosa03/mediascapes/article/view/19111