The digital age has enabled the world to be more interconnected than ever, and most people nowadays don’t have a problem adopting modern technology resources. Even though the technology gap between younger and older generations is significant, it seems that a large percent of the elderly are becoming familiar with the use of various technologies.
The World Wide Web was commercialized in the 1990s, and ever since, it’s been considered to be “exclusive” for the younger generations only. The fact that there were only 14% of seniors using the Internet in 2000 goes to prove this claim. However, things have changed in recent years as 70% of the senior Internet users spending time on the Internet on a daily basis.
While examining the infographic created by the MedAlertHelp team, we’re going to focus on seniors who are already accustomed to using the Internet, why they do it, and what are the benefits they reap from the digital age.
Whether it is for getting health or medical info, performing financial activities, or using social networking sites, the elderly have different reasons for using the Internet. Many studies have been conducted throughout the years, and the following numbers have been obtained:
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A massive percentage (78%) of seniors use the Internet because it allows them to access relevant information quickly.
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60% of them use it because it keeps them up-to-date on political and policy issues.
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33% of elderly people use the Internet as the most trusted source for news and information, is the reason why 33% of elderly people use it.
Seniors That Refuse to Go Online
While there is a considerable number of seniors surfing the Web, there are many who can’t or don’t want to use the Internet, and list the following reasons for not doing so.
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Around 2 in 5 seniors have a “physical or health condition that prevents them from fully participating in many daily activities.”
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22% of seniors not using the Internet disagree that they are missing out on relevant information.
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77% of older Internet users need someone to help walk them through the process.
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22% of Americans aged 59 and older have personally experienced some form of online harassment.
Once they figure out how the Internet works, the elderly can acquire many benefits from using the World Wide Web. Watching videos, playing Sudoku or chess, and learning new things can help seniors keep their memory and problem-solving skills at a higher level. Furthermore, using the Internet to communicate with friends and family helps in maintaining sharp mental health since they can use it to talk to people and feel less isolated or lonely.
Searching through the Internet for information about health conditions and medications helps them improve their general health, and exercising with workout videos help them maintain their physical health. What’s more, shopping can be a real problem for the elderly, so that’s why learning how to use the Internet for shopping is another thing that is going to help them in their everyday lives.
Scroll down and take a look at the infographic below to find out more about the relationship between the seniors and the Internet.
URL: https://medalerthelp.org/
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