Overview

A surprising window into the online lives of people sixty and over—offering essential insights, no matter your age. Many popular accounts say the older you are, the greater your tech struggles. And it's worrying to think of loved ones emailing cringe-worthy misinformation, falling for phishing attacks, or becoming lonelier with increasing time spent online. But in their eye-opening book on the internet's fastest-growing demographic, researchers Eszter Hargittai and John Palfrey offer a more nuanced picture—debunking common myths about older adults' internet use to offer hope and a necessary call to action. Incorporating original interviews and survey results from thousands of people sixty and over, Wired Wisdom shows that many, in fact, use technology in ways that put younger peers to shame. Over-sixties are often nimble online and quicker to abandon social media platforms that don't meet their needs. Despite being targeted more often, they also may be less likely to fall for scams than younger peers. And fake news actually fools fewer people over sixty, who have far more experience evaluating sources and detecting propaganda. Still, there are unseen risks and missed opportunities for this group. Hargittai and Palfrey offer practical advice and show that our stereotypes can be hurdles that keep us from building intergenerational support communities, helping loved ones adopt new technology that may improve their lives, and thriving together online.

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9780226841397

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“This is a useful, practical, and urgently needed book. As someone who regularly interacts with a large community of online elders, I can imagine this book will validate their lived experience.” * Gina Neff, University of Cambridge *

Author Information

Eszter Hargittai holds the Chair in Internet Use & Society in the Department of Communication and Media Research at the University of Zurich. She is the author or editor of five books, most recently Connected in Isolation. John Palfrey is president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including Born Digital and The Connected Parent. He is based in Chicago.

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