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As the world continues to adapt and adopt the internet across all walks of life, we continue to see the countless possibilities that it opens up. Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen A have all grown up with the internet around them. For them, using the internet is second nature and there is rarely anything that they struggle with. However, senior citizens are a different story. They come from different generations where modern technology was either in its infancy or didn’t exist at all. A shift in the way we do things will naturally face inertia and resistance.
Despite initial resistance to the constantly evolving internet landscape, many senior citizens have started to come around to the internet. They have realized that it would be in their best interest to do so. It is important to shed light on this since the internet and senior citizens have had their differences in the past. However, times are changing and this article will expound on the different ways senior citizens are embracing the internet.
The Internet and Senior Citizens
Around 75% of senior citizens use the internet for a variety of different tasks. These include talking on the phone, checking the weather or email, playing an online game, or reading. This is an admirable statistic but is still the lowest compared to teenagers, young adults, and adults.
Senior citizens often avoid using the internet simply because it can all get a little overwhelming for them. For starters, using smartphones or tablets requires a certain period of learning. Applications have different interfaces that can quickly confuse them.
Different products and services require you to log in which requires them to learn usernames and passwords, once again a hurdle. Neither are they at fault for finding it confusing and neither are the people who made them since they wish to appease their target demographics.
In an effort for everyone to reach a consensus, senior citizens have decided to accept the internet. To make life simpler for themselves, opting for AT&T internet is the way to go. A combination of world-class service, diverse options, and impeccable customer service makes it the right option.
Why Are Senior Citizens Embracing the Internet
As more senior citizens begin to embrace the internet, it is important to delve into why this happening. What are the reasons that have led to this digital renaissance among older people?
Improved Access to Information and Services
It is now common knowledge that the internet is the ultimate tool for learning. There is an answer online for every question. If there isn’t a direct one, you can find someone who has the answer. In the past, people relied on books and other physical resources. Now, anyone can search for anything on a phone, tablet, or computer. Senior citizens can also leverage this same power to their own benefit.
Sometimes, they can search the internet for a way to understand something on their device. That is the beauty of the internet, it has its own instructions for anyone to search and use. Furthermore, all types of services are available on the internet. If they want to order food, hail a cab, get in touch with a doctor, or make a purchase, they can do so on the internet while sitting on the porch of their home.
Remaining Connected With Friends and Family
One of the most prominent benefits of the internet is how it has blurred all the borders that existed between people. Never has it been easier for people to remain in touch whether it is over text, call, or video call. It is not uncommon for senior citizens to have family and friends in different parts of the world. In the past, if they wanted to talk, they would have to call them on their phone and if the other person was at home, they could have a conversation.
In the digital age, this is no longer a hindrance. It has never been easier for someone to call a loved one, send them a voice message, or video call them. Any of these mediums can be sent or received at any time during the day or at night. If someone is out and they see something they want to show their children, they can video call them on the spot. This might seem like a common occurrence for us but for a senior citizen, this sort of accessibility is unprecedented.
Wearable technology has taken this to another level. The Apple Watch comes with fall detection built into it. If the person wearing it falls, the watch will immediately contact a list of people and emergency services to send help. This is almost too good to be true but it exists and it has saved many lives and is just one of the many ways that the internet allows for a better connection between people.
Online Entertainment Options
Just like any of us, senior citizens also get bored. They also want entertainment and just like us, the internet is the best way to watch a movie, TV show, or YouTube video. There are several platforms and millions of options to pick from.
Benefits of Senior Citizens Using the Internet
When senior citizens use the internet, they become a part of the digital revolution that has changed the world. It has opened the doors to knowledge, communication, and entertainment, unlike anything before it.
Senior citizens can use the internet to make life incredibly convenient for themselves. It allows them to meet new people via social media and online communities. There are millions of instances of senior citizens finding long-lost friends on social media. These people met after decades and old connections were established once again – an incomparable feeling. Moreover, it allows them to establish new connections if they feel lonely. All of this becomes easier with a stable internet connection!
For senior citizens who run their own businesses, knowing how to work the internet allows them to remain competitive. Combining years of experience with modern technology is the ideal mix for any business to be successful. When they know how things work, it makes it easier for them to teach others the tricks of the trade.
Conclusion
The internet is one of the important innovations of our species. Countless new industries have emerged thanks to the internet. Millions of people around the world are now connected effortlessly. People of all ages now have a tool that allows them to remain competent at any point in their life. Senior citizens are one demographic that has always resisted the internet and its influence on society. However, in recent times we have seen a paradigm shift in the way the internet is received. This is thanks in part to the many ways that the internet has made life simpler and easier. There are many ways for senior citizens to add more value to their lives by embracing the internet and all that it has to offer them.