The internet is a confusing place. While we "tech-savvy kids" can’t imagine our lives without it, it’s nearly impossible to keep up with the constant changes online. And when it comes to people from the older generation, no wonder they feel a little out of their element when posting online. Except, of course, in instances when your grandma and grandpa simply must find the perfect rose-filled picture to wish you a happy birthday.
But hey, seniors try their best, and we love them for that! Especially when their efforts result in adorable situations when they get tripped up by text lingo, confuse a Google search with a Facebook post, and type out hilarious comments that leave us scratching our heads… and completely in stitches.
In fact, there’s something so wholesome about elderly people navigating the complex universe of the digital world that an entire Twitter account called 'Old People Online' is dedicated to their pearls of wisdom. Or, as the creators of the page describe, it's just "old people doing old people things on the internet." Below, we wrapped up some funny and charming examples from the page for you to enjoy. So continue scrolling to check them out, and don't miss the chat we had about seniors and modern tech with Deborah S. Bowen, Ph.D.
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Now you have to add another family member and then leave the group...
I read that as "ice for your bum" for ages. I think I might need to find my glasses.
Load More Replies..."112, what is your emergency?" " my grandpa woke up and choose violence. And we don't have any icecube"
The scenario of seniors fiddling with technology that leaves them completely bamboozled is a well-worn stereotype, but when they try to participate in the world of social media — it's an adorable source of entertainment. Of course, there are many reasons why they might be having a hard time with this. Some elders are less likely to absorb new knowledge since they never encountered digital tech while growing up, and others struggle with touch screens due to dry hand skin or other health conditions.
Moreover, older adults are at a digital disadvantage from the start: 18% of UK adults aged 65+ do not have home internet access, and 25% of older US citizens do not consider themselves internet users.
Seniors’ inability to cope with modern technologies is basically an urban legend, and there are many widespread myths that elderly people are technologically illiterate or dislike the newest devices. So in a bid to separate fact from fiction, we reached out to Deborah S. Bowen, Ph.D., an Assistant Professor of PR Instruction at the University of South Florida.
"Mam, your daughter may be irresponsible, but you don't need to discipline her. Someone else is taking care of that."
Not stylish enough for her as they've never seen her wear it.
Load More Replies...I'm now wanting the conversation of the daughter delicately trying to ask if her mom has seen her ball gag.
They wouldn’t happen to have a set of handcuffs, a swing, and magic wand that shakes when you turn it on would they?
A magic wand that shakes!!! 😂😂😂 Those shall forever be known as magic wands. ☺️
Load More Replies...It looks like dad is about to get an education regarding this bracelet by friends. I guess he's learning a lesson about not taking someone's items and publicly posting.
I was confused at what is wrong with this at first, then after reading the comments I realised it....I'm glad I still have some innocence left 😅
No offence to anyone, I'm still fairly young (or at least think I am) - but this is me 110% at least once a day at some point...kudos to him trying.
That is the most old person thing to ever old person. God love 'em.
Seriously! My mother is turning 79 next month... she's taken fairly well to technology, but every other day or so, I get a text that is basically "oh my god siri stop siri stop alexa stop it it's writing everything i say how do i stop this stupid thing siri siri siri stop"
Load More Replies...Lol, why does this remind me of my first time on IRC? Just lacking the, "You're typing too fast! Halp!" portion
This is my son. That is my son. He's a cute son. I just love that son so much ..
"'Technology' is such a broad term, and we’ve somehow come to think of it as only relating to contemporaneous devices and discoveries," Bowen told Bored Panda in an email. "But 'technology' is contextually delineated: the light bulb, for example, was clearly a piece of new technology at the time of its introduction."
The professor pointed out that everyone encounters new technology as they move through life, and it’s time to "gently push back on the idea that our seniors are somehow intellectually hobbled by age."
"While some aspects of what we’re calling 'technology' might be overwhelming to a senior, they might also be overwhelming to someone who has never been exposed to devices and discoveries," she explained. "With time and practice, however, technology can become useful and intuitive to all of its users."
I heard Gran has more clean sheets than David James did when he was there.
Load More Replies...🤣 This made me laugh so hard I had a coughing fit and had to run to the loo ..Nan is a legend 🤣
Yes used to take them in a photo booth. But clearly Gran used the funky options lol
Load More Replies...My Dad went to drop something off at my cousin's new apartment. He said she had a milk crate and a TV tray. He went to the thrift store and got her some furniture. Can't have people struggling when you have the means to help. Please donate your unwanted furniture so other people can enjoy their homes.
If that is Tony, he's a big boy now if he has his own place. Maybe instead of cleaning it for him, grandma can show him HOW to clean himself.
Thank you, she was thinking about there are too many adults out here half-assing life because their parents babied them their whole life
Load More Replies...TBH. I always thought grannies like this were fake. All mine ever did was call teenage me a sl*t when my dad left the room. Turns out I just got a bad deal 😂.
We are real. We turn up when you least expect us. We clean. We know how. We know everything! ..... Really. Everything. We don't have to be there. No one has to tell us. We tell no one. We just know.... still miss having one? ---- My grandkids say they're offering a split decision. I honestly hought that had to be boxing.
Load More Replies...Although certain aspects of the tech world make it a challenging terrain for elders to navigate. In fact, surfing online without arming themselves with knowledge can even become dangerous.
"Living here in Florida, where a good number of residents are senior citizens, I often hear stories of successful scams against the elderly," Bowen noted. "Studies show that, as we age, physical changes occur in the brain that can actually make us more susceptible to financial scams."
Professor Bowen is referring to "age-associated financial vulnerability," a term coined by physicians at Weill-Cornell Medicine in New York. They have discovered that as the brain ages, the changes may affect its ability to detect fraud and evaluate the risks. "“We are learning that there are changes in the aging brain, even in the absence of diseases like Alzheimer’s disease or other neurodegenerative illnesses, that may render older adults vulnerable to financial exploitation," physician Mark Lachs told Marketplace.
"No, I'm not interested. But I have a friend who might be, and I wanted to make sure it was still available before I told him about it."
It’s Jabba the Hutt talking to Princess Leia in Return of the Jedi.
Yeah...I was wondering when someone would make the connection.
Load More Replies...I too, would have voted on this. I'd go for "Trying to sell dining room set" to help the underdog.
Its always the underdog, why doesn't anyone ever support the updog?
Load More Replies...Even though people of all ages are a target in the con artists' eyes, it’s clear that they have zoned in on older people’s susceptibility and use a variety of online platforms to execute their scams, Bowen argued. "It is important to make sure that any seniors in your lives are aware of the potential for Internet crime, and that they are vetting any correspondence that raises red flags."
Auto-converting any sequence of letters with a period in it to an URL is the real evil here.
Someone needs to tell granny that 3 kisses can mean something else… please kiss in even numbers
I really wish I'd been able to get my mum to this level of smartphone competence. I'd have made sure to make an error like that into the background on my phone, tablet, desktop.. 😂
He's like' I have seen one of those things before, not impressed '
Load More Replies...😅 My late Granadad thought that OK meant "Oh, Nice 💓" . His face, when I told him otherwise, has been hilarious.
I can just imagine some random kid seeing this and yelling ok boomer
We're all gonna burn 🤣 I shall leave invites to my rave so atleast it'll be lit
This one actually had me cackling! My husband stopped what he was doing to ask what was so funny. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
According to data, elders are also extremely vulnerable to phishing scams, "and there is a body of evidence that suggests that seniors are the largest population of online gamblers due to time, some disposable income and the thrill of the game."
"It seems that seniors, by virtue of their age, can be both passively and 'actively' engaging in online behaviors that put them at risk, but that can be argued for any demographic group that uses the Internet," Bowen told us.
It's the freedom you feel when you are 10 years past a job experience and can let it fall off your resume like a bad debt from your credit report, and you can finally be real about how working for them was the worst way to pay for life's necessities.
Nice job of raising him dad 👨. Oh yeah, like father like son?
At the end of the day, everyone should be responsible for teaching their beloved seniors the dangers of the digital world. And, of course, we should all strive to be more accepting of seniors hopping online and trying to decipher the uncharted territory of social media. After all, this could be any of us 30 years from now.
Bowen agrees with this line of thinking. "Social media is absolutely the least predictable 'space' online. From platform to platform, rules, features and even ownerships can change, quite literally, overnight."
"It’s up to every user of every platform to be dialed in to each set of terms of service so each user knows what rights and responsibilities they have (or are losing!)," the professor added. "If a user of any age is having difficulty understanding anything about a specific platform, they should be encouraged to find online or in-person resources that can be of help."
Very helpful! tysm! (no there is no sarcasm!)
Load More Replies..."Grandpa died. Massive heart attack. LOL." - Grandma
Load More Replies...I had to explain to my 80 y/o mother what ':)' meant last week, that it was just a smiley face. Amazingly, she knew what I meant when I wrote 'wtf' lol.
My Now Ex replied WTF to me one day. I was over the top shocked! He then explained, Why, That's Fantastic. I definitely did not care for that joke.
Load More Replies...I'm in my 30s and I didn't know kys. The internet makes EVERYONE old
"Grandma, I'm not sure you know what that emoji means..." "I actually meant to use that emoji - Shane was a joke"
What about the person who sent condolences by a text message, signing it LOL. Apparently they thought LOL meant Lots of Love!
I will never forget that one. She probably had to make lots of phone calls to remedy that blunder. You could feel her heart sink when she was corrected.
Load More Replies...I used this one for sad for ages 😪 but i think its actually asleep and blowing a snot bubble 😭
Me too. It just looks like a sad, crying face to me. I can't imagine what people thought when I sent it.
Load More Replies...Did you know Shane? Why are you crying? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I'm crying too, (I've just got a sore neck..)
Load More Replies...But some seniors may also be reluctant to learn to use technology because of reduced mobility and reactivity. In fact, a study conducted by Pew Research Center showed that 23% of elderly people in the US have a "physical or health condition that makes reading difficult or challenging." Moreover, 29% reported they suffer from a "disability, handicap, or chronic disease that prevents them from fully participating in many common daily activities."
The same study revealed that the majority of participants expressed worries about learning how to use digital tools. Only 18% said they were comfortable with learning this themselves while 77% noted that they would rely on someone else to assist them.
What else are you supposed to do after retirement?
Load More Replies...Next text: Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?
I, for one, am simply delighted to know that Carl the cat has eaten 4 bites of banana.
True, true. Btw, where'd you get that pfp?
Load More Replies...I found a cucumber covered in teeth marks/ punctures.. my cat also orally attacked a bag of carrots. Apparently this is newsworthy. Hehe
Orally is better than the alternative, I suppose. NTTAWWT 🤷♂️
Load More Replies...I mean... Lots of pet owners are unaware of what their pets can or can't eat... This man is probably scared his cat will get sick and posted it to see If someone tells him to get the cat to the vet or no
These are the updates I'd go back to larger social media platforms for. This has already sparked a conversation about cats and bananas. Yes to this, no to you filming yourself giving the homeless $1 at stoplights. Also, it turns out my cat Mongoose (aka the goose is loose) gags loudly when smelling a banana. Thanks Carl.
"Patience is rewarded, and that reward can come in the form of incredible stories. As you teach your senior loved ones about the Internet, let them teach you about the way in which they grocery shopped, or washed clothes, or what they learned in school. It’s well worth the drain on your battery – and might be just the kind of recharge you need," Bowen concluded.
How much do you have to write about poop for your autocorrect to start expecting excrement????
I actually corrected autocorrect’s “what the duck” so many times that the one time I legitimately used the word ‘duck’ in a text, it autocorrected it to f*ck. True story!
Load More Replies...Hey, when you get up there in age, excitement and excrement can be concurrent events. Don't ask me how I know this.
Literally had a review like that at the job i'm in. Except, they never corrected themselves...
There is so much potential humor in this post yet the thing that really gets me is the response from Target 😂
I work hard representing my organisation, only for people to misspell Illuminati, and taint us by linking us with people like Trump. [For legal purposes I can neither confirm nor deny if Target has any involvement.]
The fact that the only words spelled correctly are ¨Target¨ and ¨all¨ just adds more flavor to the post.
Ok so I am guilty of this. I was looking at my memories on Facebook and apparently someone I knew named Mike died. I posted I would never forget him yet I have no clue now who he was lol oops
George could be anybody...George of the jungle, curious George, George washington...be more specific.
Well if it's the opposite, then it's was a very... graphic birth
Load More Replies...Why do you need an evil counterpart? Oh wait, I answered my own question lol
Seriously though everyone should have a read of Waterford whispers it's brilliant
I automatically read "Oh my goodness" in Mrs. Doubtfire's voice in my head
There was no threat or offer of a bribe (tho maybe a little passive-aggressive guilt attempt). Also, they DID respond. 😆
Load More Replies...My name it is Maria/ A merchant's daughter fair/ And I have left my parents/ And three thousand pounds a year.
Guilt trips and other emotional manipulation for views likes and shares, I think they meant. Whatever, same.
The article is trying to guilt trip people into sharing it, but the commentor said they won't share it because because they know it's trying to guilt trip them :)
Load More Replies...Apart from the obvious irony, there is also the irony of "Be Kind" being on a photo of weaponry!
I always see hateful racists with Jesus frames. I wish it was humorous.
Says a man most likely alive during the Vietnam and Korean wars. Where America, ya know, RUINED OTHER COUNTRIES.
Oh we've done worse than that. We've destabilized most countries south of us at least once, often at the request of corporations. Funded and trained various terrorist organizations, including the one that became Al-Qaeda. Among other things.
Load More Replies...This bigoted, backwards and dated way of thinking is dying slowly, but we will be rid of it in time.
Unfortunately some younger people are learning from these people.
Load More Replies...K -Mart "our Peruvian cashier can recommend some good recipes"
Load More Replies...It's like when you go to someone's house and there's this odd 7 year old who engages you in conversation with EVERY detail in their little memory banks.
Lube is the answer to everything internet related.
Load More Replies...well ACTUALLLLLLLYYYYYYYYY the answer is avocado tree dog
Load More Replies...The questions section on Amazon is full of this c**p. Question "Is this comparable with ____ or ____?" Answers "I don't know what this is, I bought it for my grandson." I would rather see a troll answer than 'I don't know' .
Even worse, is the reviews that are like that: I can't review because I bought as a present. I wish people understood they don't HAVE to review (i.e. just ignore the automatic review email).
Load More Replies...Maybe that will cause the Taqueria to pick her up for a higher rating. Pam could be brilliant.
I bought a 2nd hand TV. When I started it up the menu was in Chinese. I'd bought it from a Chinese student who had finished her course in Sweden and gone home. I don't understand Chinese and I had no idea how to change it to English. Had to ask on local groups on Facebook asking for help. Was really grateful when I found someone who could change it to English lol.
Load More Replies...My father, a 55 year old senior computer engineer for a large company, somehow changed the voice command setting in his car to Creole. And after attempting to fix it, it's now stuck talking in German. It's been several months. So don't worry, this happens to the best of us. On the bright side, I think I'm picking up German.
I visited a Haunted house one day, My Phone was scrambled and changed to Polish , it took me an hour to re-set it to English language.
It was carrot cake! Carrots are healthy, therefore carrot cake is healthy. /s
Load More Replies...Well, it was uncle Stu's birthday party so... Everyone kinda cried
That's why I think this was surreptitiously sneaked by The Former (now referred to as the tRump)
Load More Replies...I'm dying laughing at this one Edit: Thanks for all the upvotes guys!
Me too! Also, "Good morrow fellow lgbtq+ member, I should hope to meet again."
Load More Replies...Just as beautiful as all the rest of Instagram models. Like seriously
My favorite recipe for creamed corn is keeping it as far away from myself as possible. Failing that, corn bread.
Y do elderly folks always use Facebook like Google?
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, WRONG NUMBER!? HERE MORE GRANDCHILDREN
Load More Replies...My grandchildren and I. Now, you can get back to spamming this guy. 😁
Ok??? Doesn’t mean you can’t still appreciate me and my grand children
Oh THOSE grandchildren. Thanks for the second photo, I needed it to make the connection
Some people back in the day never got their dyslexia diagnosed and it shows. You're doing just fine, Mom.
Where is that beautiful house? Where does that highway go to? Am I right? Am I wrong?
and you just KNOW there are twenty some odd little plastic bags in the freezer with old bananas in them just waiting to be used.
That they type "thank you" leads me to believe that the searcher believes there are people who are answering questions on Google.
my favorite part is the red old scribble that was added in, lol.
There these old folks go again ... going to Facebook to use it like Google.
First tell me how to get to Sesame Street and I will tell you how to get to YouTube.
I wonder if afterwards they changed their relationship status to: "it's complicated"
Load More Replies...Now in a serious relationship with the wasp queen, so it all worked out /j
It's been 11 days since the post so if she isn't there already she probably has her flight and accommodations booked. Lol
Load More Replies...I'M B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-BACK, BABY! MY NAME'S DOCTOR ROCKZO, THE ROCK AND ROLL CLOWN, AND I DO COCAINE!
This lady- Deborah, sweetie, no more cocaine for you, you addict. Deborah: 🤩🤬
Bp didn't censor, guys my day is ruined since the word cocaine was not censored (/s)
My nanna recently discovered giphy and not gonna lie, her game is pretty strong.
Im not old and I've accidentally done this 🤣 usually the huge thumbs up on fb at inappropriate times
Ahh the ol "for some reason" because phones post things on their own all the time. Definitely wasn't user error.
Looks like Brian May has a candy crush addiction ;) Upvote for Queen
Damn Bro, just play some guitar to calm down. It's ok. We all love and hate Candy Crush.
I admin a Facebook forum (on climate change). Until I learned how to block them, I kept getting spam ads from people advertising duct cleaning. They go to sites offering sex. I suppose duct cleaning and sex could be interpreted as being connected. 🤣
Is that pronounced like Michael with hard G sound or more like Giselle?
For all wondering, the QR code goes to his account page https://www.facebook.com/BHideas
Some place the origin of barbecue sauce at the formation of the first American colonies in the 17th century.[2] References to the sauce start occurring in both English and French literature over the next two hundred years. South Carolina mustard sauce, a type of barbecue sauce, can be traced to German settlers in the 18th century.[3]
I've been stressing over how to go about leaving my job, but I think I have my answer now
rabbler.Now I challeng you to write any word that starts with F and ends with F
Oh hey, BP's censors don't blur out REAR? But K**b, that's too much.
Load More Replies...You are thinking of this 🤘 not 🤟. 🤟Means love and ✌️ means peace. 🤘 Is your metal devil horns.
Load More Replies...I swear everyone over age 60 has lead poisoning or something cuz this isn't a matter of not being able to figure out technology, this is just remedial common sense.
Karen.. if anyone asks, your computer was hacked. There are laws against some acts. 😳
Lead poisoning. Their whole generation spent their childhoods breathing in lead paint dust. It's the only possible explanation for why they all operate on one dusty brain cell.
I hope so! Although it was a gelatinous glob of who knows what, designed specifically to ruin my health... It tasted good!
It actually just got back the day before yesterday I believe lol
Load More Replies...Honestly, this is probably how I'd react to a squirrel being in my car up until the moment it came close to touching me and I started panicking 😂
Same here, depending on what is meant by "in my car" - inside the passenger cabin? No. Under the hood, on top of the exhaust manifold? Yup.
HELLO GOOGLE HOW TO CHANGE. FIVE STARS INTO ONE STAR. HELLO GOOGLE. CHANGE. FIVE. STARS. INTO. ONE. STAR.
Load More Replies...Probably thinks those are walnut whips! Chocolates, for non UK readers.
I don't know but I'm sure as heck not buying any!
Load More Replies...The comma instead of the apostrophe is bugging me. And I'm surprised it's sponsored!
Is it a cloud, a star, a plan!?! No it is someone I don't recognize!
Some think lol means lots of love… but, that’s not how most people read that.
in Dutch, lol is even an actual word, meaning amusement, pleasure, fun...
Load More Replies...Oboma: she’s a classical musician like her brother Yo-yo. Only, she plays the oboe.
Poor photography such as this deserves more than just being jailed & beaten. I say: the guillotine!
To be fair they are quite different now. I used to play with my great grandma and my grandma.
No more contacting please i will contact attorney general if you do not stop
Load More Replies...At 40, I didn't think I was that old, but a 25 y/o guy has started at my wife's office, and they've had to teach him how to write emails properly.
When he figures it out, they should give him a participation trophy.
Load More Replies...This was really funny.My 77 yo mother was recently in FB jail for a week because she argues with people about politics.She told someone she'll $hit on them and their opinion and got reported and suspended
Who invented computers, programming, the internet, etc? Oh yes people who are now old. It didn't spring into being in an instant, by young people and for young people. Not all old people are IT illiterate, and in my IT career they arrogant and failing were actually the young ones. They hadn't learned humility and the realisation they weren't born experts.
Cool down dude, it's just for a laugh... everyone messes up on computers from time to time but honestly, if you have so much faith in the elderly on computers then you can take the next Skype call with my mum, that is pure torture & she used to teach computer classes, the first 10 minutes are usually spent with my mum yelling at me asking if I can hear her when the real problem is she keeps forgetting where the speaker phone button is & can't hear me. If I didn't laugh I would cry
Load More Replies...Not just old people. This was on the Facebook page of a 40-something guy. sinus-636d...422a9.jpeg
My mother just sent me a series of texts chastising me for not responding to her email. I finally had to phone her to figure it out. She didn’t send me an email. She posted it on Facebook. I’m not on Facebook.
Old people with tech are just hilarious. I really tried not to laugh at some of these because they could have been my mother in law. In about 20 years, I'll be screaming at Alexa and trying to make phone calls with the TV remote too.
In 20 years, data linkages will be tied directly to your nervous system. Think horny thoughts at Alexa and see what happens then, hey?
Load More Replies...I can see my dad doing some of these when he gets old, especially the one where the person ended up putting the phone in Chinese. He is terrible with technology.
At 40, I didn't think I was that old, but a 25 y/o guy has started at my wife's office, and they've had to teach him how to write emails properly.
When he figures it out, they should give him a participation trophy.
Load More Replies...This was really funny.My 77 yo mother was recently in FB jail for a week because she argues with people about politics.She told someone she'll $hit on them and their opinion and got reported and suspended
Who invented computers, programming, the internet, etc? Oh yes people who are now old. It didn't spring into being in an instant, by young people and for young people. Not all old people are IT illiterate, and in my IT career they arrogant and failing were actually the young ones. They hadn't learned humility and the realisation they weren't born experts.
Cool down dude, it's just for a laugh... everyone messes up on computers from time to time but honestly, if you have so much faith in the elderly on computers then you can take the next Skype call with my mum, that is pure torture & she used to teach computer classes, the first 10 minutes are usually spent with my mum yelling at me asking if I can hear her when the real problem is she keeps forgetting where the speaker phone button is & can't hear me. If I didn't laugh I would cry
Load More Replies...Not just old people. This was on the Facebook page of a 40-something guy. sinus-636d...422a9.jpeg
My mother just sent me a series of texts chastising me for not responding to her email. I finally had to phone her to figure it out. She didn’t send me an email. She posted it on Facebook. I’m not on Facebook.
Old people with tech are just hilarious. I really tried not to laugh at some of these because they could have been my mother in law. In about 20 years, I'll be screaming at Alexa and trying to make phone calls with the TV remote too.
In 20 years, data linkages will be tied directly to your nervous system. Think horny thoughts at Alexa and see what happens then, hey?
Load More Replies...I can see my dad doing some of these when he gets old, especially the one where the person ended up putting the phone in Chinese. He is terrible with technology.
