Elders in the digital world

 

With the aging of the population and the rapid growth of mobile technology the needs and preferences of older adults as users of digital technologies have garnered increasing interest worldwide over years. 
From the statistics of Finland, those aged 75 to 89 by seven percentage points. The share of Internet users of the population grew by two percentage points from the previous year to 92 per cent. These data appear from Statistics Finland's 2020 survey on use of information and communications technology by individuals. 
There are many services available for elders, such as E-commerce platforms like Amazon and grocery delivery services make it easier for seniors to shop for necessities without leaving home. What’s more, there are numerous apps designed to promote physical and mental well-being, including fitness trackers, meditation guides, and symptom checkers. Besides, E-readers like Kindle and platforms such as Apple Books and Google Play Books provide seniors with access to a vast selection of books and magazines. This can be particularly beneficial for those with mobility issues who may find it challenging to visit libraries or bookstores.
However, some research has pointed out that there are many challenges for elders when they are accessing to the digital world and the new digital tools is not designed for the elders, older adults might perceive more risks in purchasing online, such as financial risks or risks related to payment or online security. Social influence and social networks affect the skills required to access these technologies.
Obviously, digital learning and safety issues shall be concerned for elders, when I talked with my grandpa, who is more than 80 year-old now, found it is very difficult to get used to the new apps, he is always forget the steps of instructions, and he is afraid of buying stuffs from online shops, he worried that he might be tracked by someone else when purchased. So my sister in law have to be a helper and guide, my grandpa can ask for help whenever he met difficulties.

Resources:

1. https://www.stat.fi/til/sutivi/2020/sutivi_2020_2020-11-10_tie_001_en.html

2. This is an electronic reprint of the original article. This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail.