Youthful people and the imagery of youthful lifestyles are highly valued in the media. Being young and full of potential is so entwined with the idea of success and progression that we forget that people of all ages exist in society and can also embrace new concepts. There is a widespread misconception that people who are older than 60 are unwilling to embrace new ideas but the Internet and several other new technologies are disproving this long held belief.
Technology is beneficial to people of all ages, from the very young to the very old. Anyone of any age can enjoy apps on an iPhone, features on a website, and music from an iPod. The idea that people in the older age range cannot embrace technology is simply untrue. Newspapers, radios stations, social media can all be easily accessed and used by people of any age. Google is one of the easiest Internet technologies to use and it opens the door for research to be conducted about every subject—from store locations to serious academic studies.
The whole point of societal progress is for old systems to be replaced by newer, faster, easier and more effective ones that better the quality of life for anyone who uses them. People of all ages should use the Internet to their benefit. Children born in today’s world are used to using iPhones and laptops and engaging technological media practically from the day they are born. As they age they will continue to use—and improve—these systems and will continue to embrace technology even when they are in their 80s and 90s.
Undoubtedly, Internet technology will evolve substantially within the next century. However, for now we should focus on what benefits we already have and find ways to best apply these abilities to our own lives. It is important to consider all the “what ifs” concerning the future but it is even more important to make the most of the present—no matter what age we are.
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