"The fastest-growing demographic of internet users is people age 60 and older, but the group's behavior online is poorly understood - and often stereotyped. That's according to John Palfrey, former executive director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society and a visiting professor at Harvard Law School. In a new book called "Wired Wisdom: How to Age Better Online," co-authored with the University of Zurich's Eszter Hargittai, Palfrey busts common myths about how older adults relate to privacy, security, and connection in the digital age."
""Too often we have the image in our mind of a hapless grandparent or older person in our life who can't turn on the new phone they've received or they can't fix the blinking light on the VCR," said Palfrey, who is now the president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. "What we really wanted to do with this book is help make sure that the use of technology is actually a part of thriving in older age, and not something that's a hardship for older people.""
People aged 60 and older are the fastest-growing demographic of internet users, yet their online behavior is poorly understood and often stereotyped. Common misconceptions portray older adults as incapable with devices, obscuring diverse skills and needs. Misperceptions influence approaches to privacy, security, and social connection for older users. Technology can contribute to thriving in older age rather than becoming a hardship when design, support, and digital literacy are prioritized. Accurate understanding, tailored assistance, and inclusive technology design are key to promoting access, protecting privacy and security, and strengthening social connections for older populations.
Read at Harvard Gazette
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