In the 4.0 era, information technology develops, the internet covers everywhere, the elderly are also familiar with and use smart technology devices. Thanks to the internet and social networks, the elderly are connected more closely and more often with their children and grandchildren, make friends, search for health care information, etc.
For about 4 years now, Ms. Nguyen Thi Nghi in Lao Cai ward (Lao Cai city) has been accustomed to using smartphones in her daily life. Ms. Nghi confided: At first, I did not want to use a smartphone because I was afraid that my eyes would become blurry, my hands and feet would be slow, and my memory would be poor. With the encouragement and guidance of my grandchild, I got used to it and now I can use it proficiently.
Since having a smartphone, Ms. Nghi often goes online to learn about caring for and protecting the health of the elderly, while also connecting and chatting with her children and grandchildren who are working far away and creating chat groups with the elderly in the city. In particular, as a lover of the arts, she often uses her smartphone to practice singing. “Music is a way for me to entertain myself in my spare time and live happily and healthily,” Ms. Nghi said.
Mrs. Tran Thi Hoa, nearly 80 years old, in Thong Nhat commune (Lao Cai city), confided: It has been more than ten years since I retired, and I have had few opportunities to meet my old colleagues. But in the past two years, my son bought me a phone with internet connection, and set up a Facebook and Zalo page for me, so I have had the opportunity to connect and chat with my old colleagues again.
Seeing our lively conversation, her husband, Mr. Ma Cong Thang, who is over 80 years old, joined in: My children bought my wife and I each a phone with an internet connection, and I go online every day to read the news. The good thing about the internet is that an event happens but there are many newspapers reporting it, each newspaper exploiting a different aspect, helping people at home like us to know the event clearly. However, we need to be alert to choose the information to read.
When we saw them discussing the elderly accessing the internet, their son, Mr. Ma Cong Chung, also joined in the conversation: In the past, many people thought that only young people liked to use the internet, and that the elderly did not have this need, so they just needed to buy them a "brick" phone to make calls. One day, I accidentally read an article about the loneliness of the elderly in the modern world, then I understood that the elderly also have the need to find information, watch entertainment programs, connect with relatives and friends through smartphones... to have more fun.
Not only does she use the internet and social networks to read news or watch entertainment programs, Ms. Do Thi Lan, 60 years old 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 favorable than before...
Advances in information technology are helping the elderly overcome many obstacles to connect more with friends and relatives, helping to keep their minds active in daily life. However, many elderly people are still hesitant or hesitant when accessing and using smart mobile phones to access the Internet due to old age, poor eyesight, less flexible hands, unclear hearing, reduced grasping ability and memory...
In recent years, the Provincial Association of the Elderly has promoted and encouraged members at association bases to actively familiarize themselves with and use information technology devices. The use of smart technology devices to access social networks has changed the lives of many elderly people, helping them quickly catch up with the trend of the 4.0 era and integrate with young people.
Up to now, although there are no complete statistics on the number of elderly people using smart technology devices, it is certain that getting acquainted with and using smart technology devices has become a trend for the elderly. They not only use them to read newspapers, look up necessary information, watch entertainment programs, sports... but many people also use social networks such as Zalo, Facebook... to contact relatives, communicate with friends or sell goods...
The benefits that smart technology devices and social networks bring to the elderly are enormous. However, along with those benefits, accessing social networks also poses many potential risks. When accessing social networks, the elderly need to be careful of conflicting information or scams from bad actors, and should only use smart technology devices when necessary to ensure their own health and safety.
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