Why do older people fear beneficial networking and technology?

Question

While there are many who are in tune with networking sites and what's going on with technology (yes, including Twitter and even the casual YouTube log in), there are STILL a lot of older people (ages 50+) who refuse to get involved with what's going on in the world.
One of my editors is in his 70s and he is an outcast because all the employees are discussing FaceBook, MySpace and Twitter and he is not involved in anything going on (and we work at a newspaper, so you would think HE of all people would up on what's out there.)
Also, my mother is not connecting with a lot of people her age who she grew up with or worked with. Many of her old friends do not engage in anything related to the computer even though it can vastly improve their communication with the rest of the world.
What are some reasons for this? Why would they want to hold themselves back when it could benefit them professionally and socially?

Answer 1

Twitter and Facebook, while fascinating to some, bore the pants off many people, myself included (I'm 51). Guess I'm an outcast then, especially since I don't even subscribe to cable tv (OMG, gasp!!) I don't think I'm out of the loop- I read the paper, magazines, tv and surf the net and I don't fear technology, but I just have different interests and don't have the desire to rush out and look into all the new stuff. If I want to "network" I'll pick up a telephone and call someone. Much more personal and effective than sitting at a computer. Granted, an editor might have a vested interest in at least being familiar with the latest technology, but it is of no benefit to me professionally.

Answer 2

All the people I know in my "approaching retirement age" group know about Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and all the rest of them, a lot of us are members of some of those too, but most of us don't put up our own pages because we prefer privacy and know how risky and damaging being so public with all of your information can be. And most of the people we want to keep in touch with we have kept in touch with without the social networking pages (we write letters, we use the phone, we go visit each other!). We don't have this desperate need to be in the spotlight--which is what those website pages are really, "me" pages. We don't have the need to divulge a lot of personal info with people we've never met in person. We already have a fine network of real people we socialize with--in person. Truly, we don't see the benefit in these networking sites other than to pass the time.

Answer 3

i'm not too old i'm 38 and i was not a computer guy, i've been a construction worker most of my life. when i first got into the net thing, i was very lost. I've done personal work on Word and stuff but that was it. i've conqered a major learning curve. You have to understand the net is a sub culture, just as the youth culture emerged in the 1950's. I didn't know the acronyms, the smileys to say the least, even laguage is different when texting and reports on the net. i can't see their faces or gestures, or inflections of language, you should know that, that is a major factore in communication. I'm not highly educated but i know a thing or two. and it's annoying having to log on every hour to check for updates, it's like little sound bites coming to you. almost like commercial."hi!" "ok" "will you check on this or that" then later something else. last time i was in community college I didn't know why all the kids were constantly checking the iphone etc. i thought they must have short attention spans or something. but like you said it's almost the opposite, but my point is valid too. I wish we could discuss this more. check my profile if you wish to. i'm on AB and face book too. cheers!

Answer 4

50+ here... and I am involved with many of them but not all... find many a wste of time

You have to realize that those with responsibilities have so much to do that going on line really takes too much time.



BELIEVE ME ... when you are older...50+ ... you too will have your kids / young people who are involved in things you are not interested in.



I am on facebook but read a few things but find most is just garbage... not really connecting with friends at all. Twitter is also just junk.. (I have a young friend 15 who can't figure it out either.) so I don't bother with it...

i LOVE e-mail and cel phones though and paying my bills online!!!!