The pandemic also expanded interest in and reliance on smart home technology. Almost one-fourth now have it, up from 10 percent in 2019, and 28 percent use their smartphones to manage that technology. Moreover, learning how to use and manage smart home tech is a top interest of people 50 and over.
While nearly two-thirds of adults age 50 and up express an interest in new technologies, 2 in 5 do not feel technology is designed for all ages, citing its complexity, poor user experiences and insufficient training materials. Many continue to have concerns about trust and privacy, and more than half see the cost of high-speed internet as a problem.
A significant number of older Americans say they would use technology more often if they knew how. We can help. AARP offers a variety of resources for assisting people 50-plus to stay tech savvy and organize their digital lives. Many of these resources are available at AARP’s Personal Technology Resource Center. AARP has also joined forces with OATS (Older Adults Technology Services), a nonprofit organization dedicated to harnessing the power of technology to help older adults improve their lives.
Through its flagship program, Senior Planet, OATS from AARP offers free remote and in-person training so that older adults can gain the skills and confidence they need to use technology and stay connected.
It is becoming increasingly clear that people 50 and over embraced technology as never before during the pandemic and will continue to do so when we’re past COVID.
AARP can help you thrive in this brave new digital world.
