80 Of The Most Hilarious Posts From People Born Before The Internet Existed

Having relatives in your life for a long time is such a blessing. If your parents or grandparents live to be 100, you have the opportunity to share so many beautiful moments with them and to hear so many wonderful stories from their lives. Plus, we can obviously learn a lot from our older, wiser loved ones. 

But we have to remember that the world has changed significantly since the time they were born, so we might have to teach them some things too. The internet has really only been widely available to the public since about the mid 1990’s, so it’s understandable that those of us who were adults for decades prior to that might have trouble adapting to it.

According to data from the Pew Research Center, 90% of adults in the United States over the age of 65 use the internet. However, only 17% of them report being smartphone dependent. So what are seniors doing online? AARP reports that internet browsing, communication, and shopping are the most common uses elderly people have for the internet.

But many also use computers or smartphones for maps and navigation, weather, social media, photos, finance and banking, music, news and magazines, games, calendars, video chat, travel, medical purposes, personal hobbies, reviews and information, and sports.   

Having access to the internet can greatly improve seniors’ lives in several ways, Connected Nation says. First of all, it can help them stay connected to loved ones who live far apart or who they can’t see every day. Being able to keep in touch with their kids and grandkids via social media can be extremely helpful in combatting loneliness. 

Meanwhile, the internet can provide seniors with free and/or accessible education. Especially if they’re retired and have plenty of time on their hands, being able to learn something new can help keep their brain sharp and prevent cognitive decline.   

Nowadays, there are also plenty of assistive technologies that can help older adults, especially if they live alone. Smart home systems, voice-activated assistants, and wearable devices that monitor health conditions can go a long way in making sure a senior is healthy and taken care of. Plus, access to the internet means access to telehealth and remote health care, which can be a huge help to adults who no longer drive.

One thing about being on the internet, though, is that it does require a certain level of literacy, or it can be very dangerous. Unfortunately, elderly adults are the most frequently targeted group by scammers online, which can put their retirement savings at risk. It’s also important for all internet users, including seniors, to be educated on the risks of fake news and disinformation. They didn’t grow up being taught that you can’t trust everything you read online, so if they’re never told, they might not realize it.   

As far as why elderly adults seem so prone to post hilarious things online or send hilarious text messages, it might simply be because they themselves are hilarious. I have so many amazing quotes from my grandmothers when they have said something so out of pocket or unhinged that I couldn’t stop cackling for minutes. And why would they behave any differently online? If anything, their quotes might be even funnier when read from a screen.