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Every May, the Administration for Community Living leads the nation’s observance of Older Americans Month (OAM), a time to recognize older Americans' contributions, highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adults in our communities. The 2024 theme is Powered by Connection, which recognizes the profound impact that meaningful relationships and social connections have on the health and well-being of people as they age. The explosion of technology, especially over the past 5 years, has increased connections across the globe as people continue to build and maintain relationships through social media and online platforms. Although ageist assumptions may lead people to believe that there is a technological divide between older and younger populations, older adults are increasingly using smartphone apps, virtual platforms, and digital health technologies to connect to friends, family, and healthcare providers, do business, plan travel, access records and care, and expand their knowledge of their hobbies or interests. As of 2022, the Pew Research Center reported that 75% of those who are 65 and older use the Internet, a number that has steadily increased throughout the last several years.
Increased connection is just one of many benefits of the rise in Internet usage by older persons. For example, a recent study found that regular Internet use may even be linked to lower dementia risk in older adults. This recent rise in the use of online technologies, however, also comes with increasing opportunities for harm. Online scams, such as phishing, online shopping fraud, and website fraud are becoming increasingly more prevalent. Although younger people are usually targeted with promises of tickets, trips, or multi-level marketing schemes, older adults are often targeted with promises of discounted drugs, fraudulent insurance policies, or messages from fraudulent tech companies saying it is imperative that they have access to the individual's computer to "fix" a security problem. While social media platforms can serve as a way to find old or new friends, keep track of what family members such as grandchildren are doing, and communicate with loved ones across the globe, social media platforms have also become a high traffic space for fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers reported social media as the contact method for the highest amount of fraud loss, accumulating $2.8 billion of lost money, with websites and apps as the second highest amount of loss at $2 billion.
The use of computers, smartphones and other devices is very important to the connectivity of older adults. Technology provides them with reams of information and opportunities to network, connect with people, and receive healthcare. For older people to be "powered by the connection" of technology, caregivers, families and friends must help them understand the ways in which scams and inappropriate content infiltrate the Internet and target them. It is important to be sure that older adults, even if tech savvy, have appropriate security software installed, turned on and up-to-date. Older people who consider themselves to be tech savvy are sometimes even more at risk online because they believe that being tech savvy means they know how to avoid risky behavior. However, navigating the Internet safely is more a matter of understanding the behaviors of other people using it with criminal intent and recognizing that scams can come in a variety of new and constantly changing formats. All people need access to digital literacy skills so that they can embrace new technologies and responsibly stay connected with friends and family globally. For some older adults, it may be the only way to see and enjoy time with loved ones.
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