Editor’s note: This commentary is by Megan Fariel, of Burlington, a student at the University of Vermont.
[S]enior citizens are known for their high political participation. They consistently have high voting rates, contact their representatives, and are involved in powerful interest groups such as the AARP. But as the world changes and the internet becomes central for businesses, government, and personal communication, seniors may be left out.
There are various barriers to older people’s use of technology, and this prevents them from fully participating in society. The first is simply access, which is especially the case for seniors in rural areas.
Some barriers to use, however, could be corrected with effective technology education courses for seniors. One such barrier is the lack of skills to navigate technology. Seniors may struggle in accessing online forms, adjusting their phone settings to fit their preferences, and utilizing search engines to their full capacity. These are teachable skills. Young people weren’t born knowing how to use these tools – we were taught. I am 20 years old, and I learned from school, my parents and peers how to type, how to search online (which can be valuable in solving other tech-related questions), how to adjust my privacy settings, and how to protect myself from scams.
But who teaches seniors these skills? Older people did not get this education in school or from their parents, and this is concerning because government and business services that they need to access are now more frequently put online. As a result, accessing services via traditional methods such as phone, mail, or in-person has, in some cases, become more difficult. For example, government offices may be open fewer hours because most people get their forms online and thus the staffed office is not an efficient use of labor.
I don’t think seniors do not use technology for lack of interest. If they knew how to keep themselves safe, find information, and adjust settings to their liking, more seniors would use technology. With more technology education courses for seniors and a greater awareness of this issue, we can help seniors better participate in society as it evolves. In addition to the practical benefits of technology, social use of the internet has also been shown to help seniors feel more connected. I love staying in touch with my grandparents using Facebook or email and I think many grandkids would say the same.
This is not to say that older people must use technology; but rather, that it is the younger generations’ responsibility to give them the tools to access it on their own terms.
