By Michelle Sonia, President and CEO
Seniors Helping Seniors Boston South Shore
A recent article in the Harvard Gazette highlighted a new book entitled “Wired Wisdom: How to Age Better Online.” I was intrigued to learn more, and once I did, I realized our senior population may also be interested in the key takeaways.
The two authors – John Palfrey, a visiting scholar at Harvard Law School, and Eszter Hargittai, a thought leader from the University of Zurich – wrote their book to bust myths about senior citizens in the digital age. They posit that the stereotype of the hapless grandparents is inaccurate, especially given that the fastest-growing demographic of Internet users is people 60 and older.
The authors used existing data as well as their own detailed survey of more than 4,000 seniors to formulate their conclusions. A few of their findings are summarized below.
Myth 1: Seniors fall for scams more frequently
According to the authors’ research, seniors are actually more skeptical than younger folks when it comes to Internet security. The data showed that seniors are less likely to fall for a scam on an individual basis, but scammers disproportionately target older people, creating a larger pool of possible victims. On the whole, seniors have more available resources to swindle coupled with possible cognitive decline, making them more vulnerable.
Myth 2: Seniors don’t use social media
While seniors may be more cautious about sharing personal information online than their younger counterparts, seniors do use social media. However, seniors are often quicker to abandon social media platforms that don’t meet their needs. They are also less likely to fall victim to “fake news,” given that they grew up in a time with more skepticism related to news propaganda, according to the authors. From my own experience, we find that our caregivers at Seniors Helping Seniors Boston South Shore are particularly active on social media, often finding their way to our team from Facebook or LinkedIn.
Myth 3: Technology increases loneliness for seniors
Since the pandemic, the use of technology in our daily lives has grown exponentially – from remote work to telehealth and social connections via video. These virtual interactions can be a double-edged sword. They create opportunities for engagement and contact that may not be possible otherwise, but they can also create a sense of isolation and encourage individuals to decrease the amount of time they spend with in-person activities. Nevertheless, the researchers found that the benefits of seniors using technology to stay connected with loved ones often outweigh the negatives.
My favorite point from “Wired Wisdom: How to Age Better Online” is the importance of finding balance. Seniors can – and do – have an active online presence, but engagement is still necessary for seniors to thrive. Encouraging seniors to venture out and remain active in their communities can help them maintain that balance. This is why many of our clients seek companionship and socialization when they reach out to us at Seniors Helping Seniors Boston South Shore.
Our goal at Seniors Helping Seniors Boston South Shore is to improve both dignity and quality of life to help our seniors age successfully. We pair seniors who would like to get out and stay active – as well as supplement their income – with other seniors in need of services.
It’s a win-win.
About the Author: Michelle Sonia is the president and CEO of Seniors Helping Seniors Boston South Shore. Michelle grew up in Hanson and lives in Weymouth and holds a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and a master’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Having worked in management consulting for more than 15 years, she is now excited about making an impact on her community. For more information, visit www.shsbostonsouthshore.com, email info@shsbostonsouthshore.com, or call 781-626-4800.
