Silver scrollers: What is screen time like for seniors?
The article explores how seniors, particularly those in their 70s and 80s, have adapted to digital technology. While some older individuals remain hesitant about engaging with online devices, research indicates that a significant majority are active internet users. The benefits of connectivity for seniors include improved mental health and reduced isolation, although concerns about safety and diminished face-to-face interactions persist.
- ▪A 2020 survey found that 90 percent of New Zealanders aged 65-74 used the internet.
- ▪Over a third of New Zealanders aged over 70 spend more than four hours a day online.
- ▪Benefits of being connected for seniors include improved mental health and greater independence.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
LifeWellbeingSilver scrollers: What is screen time like for seniors?‘Digital natives’ can’t imagine a time when they weren’t connected to the world. But what about those who grew up without digital devices. We ask people in their 70s and 80s how they have adapted to online life – or not.Venetia ShersonContributor18 May 202612 min readVenetia ShersonContributor18 May 202612 min readPhoto credit:RNZIn 1985, the internet was two, Motorola’s 1kg cellular phone known as the “brick" was appearing in workplaces across the world and Nintendo had just launched its first Super Mario Brothers game about a tribe of Mushroom People. Kingsley Field, then a 40-year-old reporter in the Waikato Times’ newsroom, remembers lugging the “brick” around on assignments.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at RNZ.