Why Do Old People Struggle With Technology

We can't imagine a day without scrolling through the internet and using it for our convenience. The Internet has become an essential part of our lives in recent years. However, elderly people might face a challenge in catching up with the ongoing trends and technology usage. 

We see old men struggling with technology in their day-to-day lives. That is because most of their life is spent without smartphones, laptops, and the internet. But it has become a necessity now. Using a smartphone is essential to communicate with anyone, all banks have started the online process, and even healthcare facilities are widely available at your fingertips.

The times have changed, so it is essential that the elderly try their hand at technology to stay connected with the modern world. 

In this blog, we will discuss 5 common challenges with technology and how to overcome them regardless of your age. 

What Are The Top 5 Challenges For Seniors Using Technology?

Understanding ‘why do old people struggle with technology’ would help you fully understand their situation and help them overcome the challenges with technology.  

1. Lack of Knowledge about Uses for Technology

One of the major reasons the elderly struggle with technology is that they are not aware of its uses. Most of our parents and grandparents used handwritten letters, landline phones, and newspapers as the means of communication. The concept of making video calls, voice assistance, and cloud storage may seem a little confusing to them. 

How to overcome this challenge: 

• Connect technology to everyday life: By describing how it might facilitate tasks, like making video calls to family members who live far away.
• Use simple comparisons: Say that YouTube is "a TV with endless channels, where you pick the shows," for instance.
• Promote practical experience: Show them how to use a feature or an app rather than just telling them. Repetition improves confidence and memory. 

Connect to the app for senior citizens for better understanding.2. Limited DexterityGrowing age means more physical limitations, like arthritis would impact using smartphones, typing on small keywords, or even holding the device. This is one of the major reasons why old people struggle with technology.How to overcome this challenge:

• Introduce handy tools: Setting smartphones to voice commands and using a stylus or big keyboards would make the work easier. 
• Enhance setting: Adjust the display setting by increasing text size, adjusting brightness, and more. 
• Use senior-friendly devices: Many smartphones or tablets introduce easier navigation, large icons, and big buttons for better access.

3. Vision ImpairmentsGenerally, eyesight weakens with the growing age, making it difficult to navigate through smartphones. Many seniors find it frustrating to read the messages and check their phone's screen. How to overcome this challenge: ‍

• Use screen magnifiers & text enlargements: Many tablets, computers, and even smartphones come with this feature. You can change the setting and make it more readable. 
• Rely on voice assistants: No need to read the phone screen when you have tools like Siri, Alexa, Gemini, etc. 
• Enable High-contrast themes: Set the screen brightness & contrast according to the user for better visibility. 

4. Overwhelming ComplexityOlder people haven't grown up with the technology around them and may find it overwhelming. With so many apps, upgrades, settings, etc., it is easy to get lost. The fear of making mistakes has held them back from using modern technology. How to overcome this challenge: ‍

• Make the experience simple: Delete unnecessary apps and keep only the most important ones on the home screen, like phone, message, camera & voice assistance. 
• Share a step-by-step guide: Show them videos or write the instructions to use a particular app. 
• Use one feature at a time: Don't overwhelm them with different apps and features; start with basic features like texting and calling. 

5. Anxiety about Understanding ComputersThe biggest reason for an old man struggling with technology is their fear of getting scammed, breaking something, or simply failing to learn. This leads them to stay away from modern tech as they say, "I am too old for this."How to overcome this challenge: ‍

• Promote a positive outlook: Remind them that making errors is a part of learning, and they can always seek assistance from anyone. 
• Offer assistance: A little motivation goes a long way. Try to be patient, don't use words like- "it's too easy, can't you understand?" Instead, acknowledge their small victories. 
• Emphasize the security features: Scams are a thing, teach them how to spot frauds, not to click on links, create safe passwords, etc. 

ConclusionOld people are afraid of the challenge of technology and how frustrating it can be. However, having patience and constant learning is the key. There are different ways to overcome such technical challenges, and even a club for senior citizens to help the elderly struggle with technology. This would make modern technology a little less exhausting and fun to learn.  FAQs1. Which is the most common major challenge for older adults?Overcoming the fear of technology is one of the most difficult tasks. Many seniors are afraid of making mistakes or breaking things, which keeps them from experimenting with new digital tools.2. What are the barriers to elderly technology?Lack of exposure, physical restrictions (such as poor vision or dexterity), complicated user interfaces, and apprehension about online fraud are some of the obstacles.3. How to make technology easier for the elderly?Technology can be made more accessible for elders by adapting gadgets to their needs, such as by adding voice commands, larger lettering, and simpler menus. Patient instruction and practical experience are also beneficial.4. How can we teach an older generation to use new technology?Introduce new ideas gradually, starting with the fundamentals and using examples from everyday life. Seniors need encouragement and experience to feel comfortable using technology.