Elderly individuals enhance their tech proficiency
In a mind-blowing twist, elderly Australians are hopping onto the digital bandwagon like never before, all thanks to the lockdown-loving COVID-19 pandemic. It's a tech-savvy revolution that's taking the Land Down Under by storm!
Analyzing data from the Aussie telecommunications watchdog, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), there's been a jaw-dropping doubling of social media usage by seniors, with an impressive 41% logging onto their Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts in June 2020, up from a mere 18% in 2019.
It's not just social media either: emailing has skyrocketed too, with a whopping 81% of the silver-hairs using their inboxes in 2020 compared to just 37% in 2019. Let's not forget the significant leap in messaging/calling apps and mobile texting usage, either!
ACMA Chair Nerida O'Loughlin isn't holding back her praise for this digital surge, describing it as the "narrowing of the digital divide" between younger and older Australians. In the past six months alone, a whopping 77% of Aussies have made voice calls, video calls, or sent messages via applications, marking a dramatic increase from 67% in 2019.
Moreover, one in three Aussies has boosted their social networking app usage post COVID-19 restrictions. As Ms. O'Loughlin beautifully put it, "We've witnessed a leap in the way Australians connect, with more folks relying on social network apps and mobile communication services like Facebook Messenger and Zoom to stay emotionally tethered."
Regional areas seem to be embracing this digital age as well, with messaging/calling apps usage soaring from 48% in 2019 to 73% in 2020. Among the most popular social networking apps are Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and WhatsApp, according to the report.
On the downside, the use of fixed-line home phone services remains stagnant among the younger crowd, but those aged 75-plus saw no change during this period. Almost all Aussie adults (99%) used a mobile phone between June 2019 and 2020.
National Seniors Australia, a shining light in this digital race, is partnering with the government-funded Be Connected program to assist older Australians in navigating the online world safely and securely.
Be Connected offers a range of free courses, from mastering the art of internet access to video calling tutorials, boosting device setup, and more. For those curious, you can find more information here. It's all about learning at your own pace and staying connected in these challenging times!
Sources:- National Seniors Australia- Key insights from enrichment data provided (health information seeking, social isolation measures, accessibility initiatives)
In this digital revolution, elderly Australians are expanding their lifestyle beyond traditional methods, now embracing technology for social media, emailing, and messaging/calling applications. This self-development trend is evident as seniors double their social media usage and greatly increase email and messaging activities, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, 41% of seniors used social media in June 2020, up from 18% in 2019, and 81% used email in 2020, compared to just 37% in 2019. In the pursuit of closing the digital divide, older Australians are enhancing their education-and-self-development skills via programs like the Be Connected initiative, which offers free courses on internet access, video calling, device setup, and more.
