Every July 26th, Grandparents' Day is celebrated, a date that aims to promote respectful, responsible, and inclusive behavior towards the elderly in society.
The digital divide represents a clear situation of discrimination and disadvantage for older people, so its gradual elimination through training is a task that all of society is called to contribute to.
Thanks to technology, older adults can live more safely, happily, empowered, and close to their loved ones. And there are devices that can help with this, as SPC, the Spanish consumer electronics brand, reminds us.
Grandparents' Day, celebrated every July 26th, is the date that focuses on the need to encourage more respectful and inclusive behaviors towards older people in society. This group suffers from phenomena such as ageism, which is discrimination based on age, or the digital divide, which, in the case of older adults, reduces their ability to live empowered in a society where technology amplifies people's abilities to connect with others, carry out activities and tasks, or learn and enjoy leisure.
Technology is a facilitator of daily life, and as a society, we have a moral obligation to reduce the digital divide so that older adults can normally use the devices and platforms that empower them. As explained by SPC, the Spanish consumer electronics brand, which has gathered some tips to help older adults better access technology:
Use devices that adapt to their needs
For older adults to get started with technology and at the same time access a wide variety of options and features, the main thing is that they do so using devices conceived, designed, and manufactured especially for them, such as smartphones for seniors. These are mobile phones with all the usual capabilities of a smartphone, but with usability adapted to the needs of this group, such as large icons, physical keys combined with equally touch-sensitive screens, or emergency buttons to alert close contacts if needed. Models like SPC ZEUS 4G PRO gather features specifically designed for the senior audience.
Additionally, SPC’s phones for seniors include Smart Help, a set of intelligent assistance features to introduce technology to the older members of the household easily, quickly, and simply. This function allows remote configuration of our elderly relatives’ devices from another phone and location, raising the call ringtone to maximum if we call our grandparents and they do not answer, or scheduling smart notifications that will alert us if our relative’s device has not registered activity recently.
But the range of devices aimed at seniors doesn’t end here; the market also offers tablets specially designed for older adults, such as SPC GRAVITY 3 4G SENIOR EDITION, prepared to serve as companions and allies in their daily lives, even if they don’t have a router at home.
Learn some very basic notions to start using technology
It’s no use equipping older adults with a device if they are not taught how to use it. SPC recommends explaining the basics of technological devices, such as touchscreens, navigating option menus, or the app ecosystem.
Also, give them tips on device configuration options that may be useful to them, such as adjusting text size, screen brightness, or sound volume. These simple options will empower the user, who should also be taught how to manage and charge the device’s battery, basic self-protection measures (especially when browsing the Internet), or how to use device protection systems, such as passwords, screen locks, etc.
Use technology to communicate and stay closer to their loved ones
One of technology’s great benefits is bringing people closer, which is especially valued by older adults, who mostly suffer from unwanted loneliness. Therefore, it is essential to install and configure messaging or video call apps, as these will be very useful tools for them to keep in touch with friends and family.
It is also important to encourage them to learn how to share files, such as photos, and even, why not, to post content on social media, as these platforms can give them a greater sense of closeness to others and inclusion in a society that often neither understands them nor is understood by them.
Do not share personal data and other security aspects
Finally, we must emphasize device security to prevent technology from turning against older adults. It is important to explain the main cyber risks, provide tools to detect and avoid them, and configure their devices with security measures that reduce risk.
In this regard, we can activate Play Protect in the Android Play Store to keep the device free from malware and harmful apps. It is recommended to install only apps from Google Play Store and never from unknown third parties, as they do not guarantee security and privacy. Also, promote safe Internet browsing, highlighting that they should not download files from unknown or unreliable sources. By configuring Google Chrome’s privacy and security options, we can ensure the device is better protected during browsing.
When browsing, we should also explain to older adults that they should not share their personal data with third parties. Nor their bank details, passwords, addresses, or any information that cybercriminals might request via fraudulent email, WhatsApp, or SMS. It should be remembered that banks will never request this type of data through these means, as well as giving advice when using public networks in cafes, hotels, or city parks where they connect via WiFi to browse.
With these simple tips, we can all contribute to reducing the digital divide and make them feel still active and needed in our society.
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