BETWEEN NETWORKS AND RIVERS

60+ INFLUENCERS, NATURE AND ACTIVE AGING IN THE AMAZON

Abstract

 The growing presence of elderly individuals on digital platforms has opened new avenues of research on representations of longevity in specific cultural contexts. This study examines how female influencers aged 60+ in the Amazon region use Instagram to represent relationships between humans, nature, and active aging. We start from the hypothesis that, for riverine and rural subjects, nature is not merely a backdrop but a constitutive element of identity and the practice of aging. The research selected four representative profiles — Vovó Sampaio, Mãe da Dhanga, Dona Neguinha, and Dona Rita — and combines Social Network Analysis, Virtual Ethnography, and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to investigate: (i) symbolic uses of nature in the posts; (ii) ideologies and mental models about longevity; and (iii) practices of cultural diffusion in digital networks. Data were collected through purposive sampling using Instagram search terms (e.g., “vovó,” “60+”) and filtered according to geographic and thematic criteria. By focusing on 60+ voices from Amazon, this study aims to contribute to debates on aging, representation, and media, showing how local identities are negotiated on digital platforms.