Social media helps senior citizens keep in touch with family, but prolonged use leads to isolation: Report

The impact of social media on the youth has been measured time and again, but a new study by HelpAge India analyses how access to internet affects the elderly. To compile ‘Elder Abuse in India - 2018’, the organisation collected data from 23 cities resulting in a culmination of 5,014 respondents.

They’ve specifically studied the impact of technology and social media across different parameters. Understanding how and why the elderly come online helps form a picture about the impact the Internet has on their world.

Access to the internet

At a national level, only 4% of senior citizens use the internet. Even in individual cities, the percentage of usage only goes as high as 6%. Most of the respondents indicated that they primarily access the Internet using their mobile phones.

66% of users access the internet at least once a day, with 39% logging in frequently in the span of 24 hours while the other 27% only check-in once a day.


Purpose of using social media

Among elderly internet users, their time online is primarily split between social media, online entertainment, messaging apps and reading the news. While platforms like Facebook and Whatsapp are used to keep in touch with family and friends, other avenues like YouTube serve the purpose of learning new things.


Perception about social media

The senior citizen’s perception about social media can be measured in terms of the benefits it provides, the purpose it serves and its effect on the paradigms of society. Most senior citizens agree that social media serves a particular purpose for them - one that has given them a platform where they can share their problems with others.

That being said, there’s a paradox. While 69% of respondents agree that social media has increased their relationships with extended family and friends, at the same time, it has reduced the amount of personal time that was usually spent directly with the family.

Use of technology vis-a-vis abuse of the elderly

It’s no longer a secret that the use of technology and social media in conjunction can lead to reduced personal interactions in the real world. Which is why it’s not surprising that most senior citizens believe that ‘quality time’ is on the downslope.

The bigger issue, however, lies elsewhere. According to the report, 65% of elderly internet users believe that giving extreme attention to phones or computers is disrespectful, and in turn, leads to elders being ‘abused’ or ignored on purpose. In the city of Mangalore, nearly all of the users believe that this is the case.

HelpAge’s conclusion derives that while internet connectivity has given them exposure and a away to connect to family outside of India, it has also left them in ‘isolation’ due to extended use and often ‘abuse’ from the younger generation who choose to focus on their devices over other things and people.