With
more and more news and communication sources moving from print to online, I
always worry about those who might not be going online, especially our senior
citizens. Thankfully these days I think I can worry a little less.
In
2001 only 15% of Americans 65 and older went online (as per a Pew Research
study.) As of 2012, the number had significantly increased with 59% of our
Seniors going online at least “occasionally.”
So what does this really
mean? As
the number of Seniors going online regularly continues to increase, we can
worry less about their losing contact with local and world events. The access
to news online means they can keep up-to-date on the world around them and not
be ignorant to their surroundings. They
can also keep in touch with their distant friends and family by email, a much
quicker way to write and send a note than regular mail. (My apologies to the
United States Postal Service as the art of letter writing has died out since
email took over!)
I
also see this as a chance for Seniors to not be as isolated from their friends
and family, especially the children in their life. In 2010, Pew found that Seniors age 74 and
older were the fastest-growing demographic on social media. Grandma is on Facebook!
Of
course Grandma being on social media has a whole new set of challenges for
those who like to keep a few secrets from her…you might want to change your
picture settings to private before you post those drunken skinny dipping
pictures from spring break. But all in
all, there’s nothing better than knowing that Grandma can now keep up with the
news, her friends, and her family.