No purple cow here
- Alannah Leonee
- Oct 6, 2020
- 2 min read
Technology is so widely used by younger generations that the older generation have limited to no understanding of the opportunities it provides. True? False!
Below is a video displaying the stereotyped associations with 'old people' and they're understanding/ competence with social media and technological devices.
Whilst the video is entertaining and the notion of emphasising these 'incompetences' in older generations has become 'meme-worthy', it is actually far from the truth when evaluating the group as a whole.
Let's take a look at the stats...
According to nydailynews.com, nearly two-thirds of 50-64-year-olds and 43 per cent of those aged 65+ are now on Facebook (https://all-digital.org/social-media-older-people-promising-future/) and 62% of seniors say social media reduces the feelings of isolation (https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-social-media-impacts-the-lives-of-seniors/). Take a moment to think of the life of an elderly person, I'll paint the picture for you. You're an elderly woman, Angela, aged 67, slight health issues but nothing major, your husband is dependant on you due to his debilitating diabetes but you live comfortably, have beautiful grandchildren and spend most of your time watching bold and the beautiful. You love Facebook because it means you can interact with your family in America as well as your children's lives. Whilst this may seem like nothing to the spring chicken a.k.a younger users of social media and the internet, this opportunity brings Angela great joy.
On top of this, 71% of seniors believe technology helps them to be more independent (https://thriveglobal.com/stories/how-social-media-impacts-the-lives-of-seniors/). They use it to google prices on products before purchasing, find further information on the state of their health, connect via email and many other avenues.
Still not convinced? Take a look at the image below...
On the right, we have Bill Gates, Co-Founder of Microsoft and to the left, Steve Jobs, creator of Apple. But, they're old? How do they understand the technology and every day seniors are left squinting and gawking at the same screen for hours? The answer is simple, new developments in technology take time. The older generation may not be as equipped in everyday life as the younger generation due to the integration of technology in schools, public transport, mobile devices, cars and pretty much everywhere else, but they do have the skills to learn.
That's why it's important to remain humble when associated with having all the answers or being the purple cow, however, we should utilise our skills and knowledge to encourage other individuals and boost their confidence.
After all, it is all the 'old' people that invented the internet.
Now that we have addressed the advantages, comment below with some possible barriers to technology use or let me know if you've ever been the purple cow!
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