"By most popular accounts, the older you are, the greater your tech struggles. Scammers target older users, defenseless to theft and privacy invasions. Your older relatives may seem too eager to spread misinformation on social media. And some worry that older adults' time online only increases their loneliness. This eye-opening book on the Internet's fastest-growing demographic paints a much different picture-offering both hope and a necessary call to action. Incorporating original interviews and findings from surveys of thousands of over-sixties online, Wired Wisdom shows many, in fact, use technology in ways that put younger peers to shame. People over sixty are often nimble online-quick to abandon social media platforms that don't meet their needs. Despite being targeted more often, people over sixty may be less likely to fall for scams. And fake news might fool fewer people over sixty, who have more experience evaluating sources and detecting propaganda. Still, some may choose to share stories they know are false for entertainment. And many have surprising preferences for learning and adopting new tech-preferences that their communities fail to meet. These are some of the surprising insights from Internet researchers Eszter Hargittai and John Palfrey's essential book for anyone over sixty and those who support and love them. Together they share the voices of older technology users, primarily in the United States and Europe, and quantitative research about this group's practices and abilities to show what we know (and don't) about over-sixties' privacy, support, safety, and well-being. Ultimately, Hargittai and Palfrey question what it means to age well online, no matter your birthdate, and offer practical advice to support everyone using new technology"--
A surprising window into the online lives of people sixty and over—offering essential insights, no matter your age.
Many popular accounts say the older you are, the greater your tech struggles. And it’s worrying to think of loved ones emailing cringe-worthy misinformation, falling for phishing attacks, or becoming lonelier with increasing time spent online.
But in their eye-opening book on the internet’s fastest-growing demographic, researchers Eszter Hargittai and John Palfrey offer a more nuanced picture—debunking common myths about older adults’ internet use to offer hope and a necessary call to action. Incorporating original interviews and survey results from thousands of people sixty and over, Wired Wisdom shows that many, in fact, use technology in ways that put younger peers to shame. Over-sixties are often nimble online and quicker to abandon social media platforms that don’t meet their needs. Despite being targeted more often, they also may be less likely to fall for scams than younger peers. And fake news actually fools fewer people over sixty, who have far more experience evaluating sources and detecting propaganda. Still, there are unseen risks and missed opportunities for this group. Hargittai and Palfrey offer practical advice and show that our stereotypes can be hurdles that keep us from building intergenerational support communities, helping loved ones adopt new technology that may improve their lives, and thriving together online.
