By Susanna P. Barton
Getting older and better is all about change, and nothing changes more during our lives than technology and current events. That’s all the more reason to stay on top of trends and innovations that can make our Golden Years great and keep us well-connected to loved ones.
From an efficiency perspective, keeping up with technology is critical to making life easier, healthier, and safer during the second half. Let’s discuss why that is and how we can ensure we’re always on the leading edge.
First, technology use is essential for smart aging, and most people in our demographic see the wisdom in that. According to a 2023 AARP study, technology use by older Americans is trending. The study reported that eight in 10 respondents said “technology has become an integral part of their life” and that they use it to communicate with caregivers, family, and friends. Of those who responded, the report also showed:
Being technology-savvy during the senior experience also has financial, health, and safety benefits. Technology is a part of making medical appointments, receiving health information, providing security to the home, paying bills, banking, investing, researching, and planning major life events. And perhaps most importantly, technology is a key ingredient when it comes to connecting with and staying close to younger family members and friends – the folks who are essential to supporting us senior adults during our Golden Years. Technology is part of everything important in life!
So, how does a smart older adult keep up with it all, especially when technology changes daily, sometimes minute by minute? The short answer is you don’t have to be an expert – you just have to be open to new ideas, learn a few new habits, and maintain fluency in the technology resources that are aligned with your personal needs and uses, and those of your loved ones. Here are a few suggestions on how to stay tech-savvy during the second half.
Poll your friends and family about communication and social media resources they use regularly, and begin your self-education in those spaces.
Part of your technology education goal is to establish reliable connections with others. That begins by understanding what tools people in your community are using. According to the AARP study, for example, “the most popular social media platforms among adults 50 and over are Facebook and YouTube. Use of Instagram increased from 24% in 2021 to 28% in 2022 among this age group; TikTok use also rose, from 10% to 15%. More than 80% engage in at least some form of streaming for entertainment, and 65% do so on a smart TV.” Maybe it’s a similar course in your corner of the world. But you’ll never know until you ask. Once you have a clearer idea of where your people are gathering, communicating, and being entertained online, learn what it will take to make room for yourself on those platforms.
Build a presence on social media.
The next step is to create accounts for yourself in these spaces. Begin with Facebook and Instagram. Facebook continues to be a popular platform for older adults and is a great place to keep up with birthdays, celebrate friends’ successes, and share news and photos. Instagram is more image-based and is a fun place for adults to sharpen their photo editing skills and visual design. The only way to navigate these platforms successfully is to tap, try, and post your way through the process. There is no “doing it right” or best course protocol. Fluency in these areas happens organically and with practice. Social media is more fun and effective when you make an effort to friend, connect, and engage with others. Once you get the hang of it, you will build a comfort level with your activity and enjoy the relationships that begin flourishing on the line.
Find a willing teenager to acclimate you to new applications and digital resources and keep you abreast of new trends.
Teenagers are the secret sauce for success when it comes to cooking up a zesty technology education. They know it intimately and naturally. Find a patient young person who will help direct you on the ins and outs of tech resources. Then practice what you learn and celebrate their assistance and your newfound awareness with some spending money or a treat they love. The double-whammy is that you get to spend time and advance connections with someone you adore.
Discover what communication tools work best for you and master it – but be open to learning tools that work best for others in your circle.
Whether you’re a CB radio person or a landline gal, know how your communication tool works and how to integrate others into it. But don’t be a my-way-or-the-highway curmudgeon. While you may be proficient in your comms, it may not align at all with others in your circle, and as such, you should be open to using other communication tools that work best for all.
Invest and stay current in home entertainment technology and digital news sourcing.
The internet, email, social media, and digital entertainment programs are increasingly your only sources for entertainment, learning, and news-sourcing, so make sure you always know how to receive it, or you will be bored and misinformed and otherwise left out of life. This is not good for your cognition, mental health or social connections.
Attend technology classes – virtual or in-person – offered by local libraries, colleges, and small businesses.
Many colleges, libraries, and nonprofit organizations offer technology courses that can help older adults stay current with technology resources and other applications. And most are free! Keep your eyes open on social media for new opportunities to learn.
Now, let’s look at the current trend and relevance part of the technology equation. This also involves connecting with others, but more so in a way that will enhance our communication, relationships, and commonalities with others in our lives. There’s nothing more enjoyable than connecting with friends and family over popular news, books, and movie references, and getting the scoop on trending topics that inspire animated conversations and playful banter. Pop culture knowledge certainly connects and entertains us all.
Here are a few suggestions on how to stay current, learn what’s hip, and be culturally relevant so you can stay better connected to people of all ages in your community of support:
Subscribe to People magazine.
I say People magazine because it’s a pretty widely known piece, but really, any publication or website in this genre will do. These sources include star sightings that give you an idea of who’s hip these days, book and movie reviews, fashion and product news, and current salacious news items – all packaged in short, easy-to-digest texts that take no time at all to consume. This information will help you keep an eye out for related topics from other sources. And a digital subscription means less waste when you’re done reading, highly recommended!
Stay active and connected on social media platforms and join TikTok.
Yes, to relate better with younger people, you have to enter their world and be on their scene – and that place is social media. And specifically, social media that isn’t Facebook or LinkedIn. Try getting established on Instagram and Snapchat. In those spaces, you’ll get a better sense of what’s important to your younger peeps, where they are, and how they’re engaging in life. And to hit paydirt on social media, you simply must get TikTok. Share on it as much as you like or feel comfortable, but you will be highly informed on micro trends and ridiculous facts by just scrolling and lurking.
Keep an eye on “trending” news stories.
You can find out what’s trending during Google searches and simply by being online. Many online news sources feature sections expressly for this purpose, including AP News and The Today Show. It’s a quick and easy way to see what people are talking about that day and decide whether you want to learn more about it.
Read the dictionary, LOL!
No really. Each year, dictionary companies like Dictionary.com and Merriam-Webster’s publish current slang words or phrases that have wormed their way into common usage. Make a note and use them carefully – claim your rizz!
And it goes without saying: please be vigilant and proceed carefully with your technology fluencies. Not everyone on social media or the internet is trustworthy, and in fact, many may be seeking ways to take advantage of you in these spaces. To borrow some Gen Z slang, certain folks on social media can be sus! It’s important to remember a few baseline rules to keep yourself safe: don’t click links that seem fishy or have an unknown origin; don’t respond to or engage in comments or DMs with strangers; and lastly, don’t fall for emails, texts or messages about unpaid bills, tickets or money requests or calls from people claiming to be your loved ones. These are all from bad actors looking to harm you. Instead, disconnect and instigate your own contact with these organizations or individuals to confirm the legitimacy of such requests. Being sus is smart! For some additional ideas of how to stay safe online, check out these fact sheets from OATS (Older Adults Technology Services).
Increasingly, technology connects and sustains all of us in almost every area of life and almost every community around the world. Being afraid of or reluctant about technology doesn’t do you or your loved ones any favors. Embracing new digital tools, staying on top of current events and trends, and integrating them all into your life and special relationships is empowering for everyone.
Susanna Barton, a member of Jacksonville Mayor Donna Degan’s subcommittee on elder care, has worked as a professional writer in Jacksonville for nearly 30 years and is the founder of the Grand Plans online community, podcast, newsletter, and blog. Her book Grand Plans 2.0: How to Mitigate Geri-Drama in 20 Easy Steps and its accompanying workbook, the Grand Planner 2.0, are available in local stores and on Amazon. For more information, visit http://www.mygrandplans.com.
Sign up for agebuzz’s free weekly newsletter sent every Thursday
