Older adults are often viewed as being unfamiliar with or unable to use new technologies. But people age 65 and older are embracing many technologies and learning how to incorporate them into their lives, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey of 3,015 adults. “Seniors feel very positive about technology,” says Monica Anderson, the lead author of the study and a research associate at Pew Research Center. “Even though they might be less likely to use these forms of technology, they do believe that technology is a quite positive thing for our society.” Here are five technologies older Americans have adopted.
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Smartphones. Young people aren’t the only ones attached to their screens. The proportion of people age 65 and older who report owning a smartphone has more than doubled over the past three years from 18 percent in 2013 to 42 percent in 2016, according to the survey. Many seniors are also taking steps to figure out what they can accomplish with these devices. “We hold Intro to Smartphone sessions at several of our retail stores across the nation,” says Sanette Chao, a spokesperson for Verizon. “The majority of them are attended by senior citizens.”
The internet. While they didn’t grow up surfing the web, two-thirds of seniors now use the internet, up from just 12 percent in 2000, Pew found. And half of older Americans have broadband at home. “Seniors who are younger have a more robust relationship with technology, so a majority have smartphones and the vast majority go online,” Anderson says. “When you look at people who are 80 plus, the vast majority don’t even use the internet.”
For seniors who can’t drive or have difficulties getting around, the internet makes it easy to email friends, Skype with the grandkids and shop without leaving the house. “Once seniors are online, they are doing a lot of things that everyone else does,” Anderson says.
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Tablets. Touch screens make it easier to navigate a computer, so some older people prefer tablets. About a third (32 percent) of those age 65 and older say they own a tablet computer, such as an iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Microsoft Surface Pro or Amazon Fire. And 19 percent of seniors read books on e-readers, such as a Nook or Kindle. The ability to change the font size, quickly look up unfamiliar words and instantly download new books can make these devices an especially good fit for seniors with vision impairment.
Direct deposit. Many retirees have been encouraged to use direct deposit by the Social Security Administration. Social Security beneficiaries have been required to receive their payments by direct deposit or another electronic payment method since 2011. Eliminating the printing and postage costs of paper checks saves the federal government money, and retirees get their money faster, with less opportunity for lost or stolen payments.
Online banking services could also benefit seniors who find it difficult to get to a bank branch. “Banks offer a lot of online services, and many [seniors] are becoming increasing receptive to those types of services,” says Stacy Canan, assistant director of the Office for Older Americans at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “But some older consumers still want face-to-face banking or a paper statement they can hold in their hand.” Some seniors have complained to the CFPB about checks or paper statements no longer being provided for free with checking accounts. “I would urge consumers to make requests of the bank or credit union that they use to ask that they not be charged for those services,” Canan says.
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Social media. People of all ages are now connecting though social media. Some retirees are also using social media sites to find work. LinkedIn reports that nearly half of the people who use its ProFinder service that helps job seekers find project-based work are over 50. “These professionals have likely had long careers and built substantial networks in their industries before retiring from their corporate job to pick up freelancing,” says Tatiana De Almeida, a spokesperson for LinkedIn. “Anecdotally, they’ve said that freelancing enables them to pursue work they’re passionate about and enjoy a more flexible schedule.”
Just over a third of older Americans now use social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, up from a quarter in 2013, Pew found. “Older social media users socialize with friends and family more frequently than people who don’t use the internet and don’t use social media,” Anderson says. “Seniors are still less likely to have certain forms of technology, but in many ways they are very much marching toward a more digitally connected life.”
Emily Brandon is the author of “Pensionless: The 10-Step Solution for a Stress-Free Retirement.”
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5 Technologies Older Americans Have Embraced originally appeared on usnews.com
