In the era of Industry 4.0, with the development of information technology and the widespread availability of the internet, elderly people are also becoming familiar with and using smart technology devices. Thanks to the internet and social media, the elderly are more closely and frequently connected with their children and grandchildren, socialize with friends, and seek information on healthcare, etc.
For about four years now, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nghi, residing in Lao Cai ward (Lao Cai city), has become accustomed to using smartphones in her daily life. Ms. Nghi confided: "Initially, I didn't want to use a smartphone because I was afraid it would impair my eyesight, slow my movements, and impair my memory. But with the encouragement and guidance of my granddaughter, I got used to it and now I use it proficiently."
Since getting a smartphone, Mrs. Nghĩ often goes online to learn about healthcare for the elderly, connects with her children and grandchildren who work far away, and creates chat groups for senior citizens in the city. In particular, being a lover of the arts, she often uses her smartphone to practice singing. "Music is a way for me to relax in my free time and live happily and healthily," Mrs. Nghĩ expressed.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Tran Thi Hoa, nearly 80 years old, from Thong Nhat commune (Lao Cai city), shared: "Since I retired more than ten years ago, I've had few opportunities to meet my old colleagues. But for the past two years, my son bought me a phone with internet access and created Facebook and Zalo accounts for me, so I have had the chance to reconnect and chat with my former colleagues."
Seeing our lively conversation, her husband, Mr. Ma Cong Thang, who is over 80 years old, joined in: "Our children bought each of us a phone with internet access, and I go online every day to read the news. The great thing about the internet is that when an event happens, many newspapers report on it, each exploring a different aspect, helping people at home like us to stay informed. However, we need to be discerning in choosing which information to read."
When we discussed elderly people accessing the internet, their son, Mr. Ma Cong Chung, chimed in: "Previously, many people thought only young people liked using the internet, and that the elderly didn't have this need, so they just bought them old-fashioned mobile phones for calls. Then one day, I accidentally read an article about the loneliness of the elderly in the modern world , and I understood that the elderly also have a need to access information, watch entertainment programs, and connect with relatives and friends through smartphones... to add to their happiness."
Besides using the internet and social media to read news or watch entertainment programs, Ms. Do Thi Lan, 60 years old, residing in Sa Pa ward (Sa Pa town), also skillfully uses Zalo and Facebook to sell agricultural products. Ms. Lan said that thanks to Facebook, her business is more successful than before...
Advances in information technology are helping older adults overcome many obstacles to connect more with friends and family, keeping their minds active in daily life. However, many older adults still feel hesitant or hesitant when accessing and using smartphones to access the internet due to their age, poor eyesight, reduced hand dexterity, impaired hearing, and decreased grasping and memory abilities.
Over the years, the Provincial Association of Elderly People has actively encouraged and motivated its members at the grassroots level to familiarize themselves with and use information technology devices. The use of smart technology devices to access social media has transformed the lives of many elderly people, helping them quickly adapt to the trends of the 4.0 era and integrate with younger generations.
To date, although there are no complete statistics on the number of elderly people using smart technology devices, it is certain that familiarizing themselves with and using smart technology devices has become a trend among the elderly. They not only use them to read newspapers, look up necessary information, watch entertainment programs, and participate in sports activities, but many also use social networks like Zalo and Facebook to contact relatives, communicate with friends, or sell goods.
The benefits that smart devices and social media bring to the elderly are immense. However, along with these benefits, accessing social media also carries significant risks. The elderly need to be cautious about misleading information or scams from malicious individuals when using social media, and should only use smart devices when necessary to ensure their health and safety.
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