Buddhist Innovation to Prevent Elderly People from Being Deceived via Online Media in Lamphun Province By Yonisomanasikāra

Abstract

This research aims to: 1) examine the issues of online deception faced by the elderly in Lamphun Province, 2) study the preventive measures against online deception for the elderly in Lamphun Province, and 3) develop a Buddhist innovation model for preventing online deception through Yonisomanasikara (wise reflection). This qualitative research employed both documentary analysis and in-depth interviews with 15 key informants, as well as focus group discussions with 6 experts. Data were analyzed using descriptive content analysis.

The findings reveal that: 1) The elderly in Lamphun Province experience problems with online deception due to a lack of knowledge and skills in information verification, making them vulnerable to various forms of fraud, such as money transfers, false investments, and identity theft. 2) The process of preventing online deception among the elderly involves three main approaches: 2.1) raising awareness and understanding of safe online media usage, 2.2) enhancing analytical thinking skills and technological competence, and 2.3) community involvement in monitoring and alerting about potential fraud. 3) The model of Buddhist innovation for preventing online deception using Yonisomanasikara suggests that applying this principle can help the elderly consider information thoroughly and carefully, emphasizing critical thinking and information verification before trusting or acting upon the received information. The application of Yonisomanasikara is implemented in three forms: 3.1) causal thinking, which focuses on identifying the true causes of information and verifying its sources, 3.2) analytical thinking, which involves scrutinizing details, such as examining product information, pricing, and payment conditions, and 3.3) evaluative thinking, which considers information from multiple dimensions to achieve a comprehensive understanding.