Table of Contents

• How You Can Use the Internet
  • To Browse and Research
  • Banking and Finance
  • Staying in Touch
  • Online Shopping
• Protection From Online Scams
  • Health Insurance
  • Imitation ofHealth Products
  • Phishing
  • Lottery Cons
• What to Do if You Are Facing Issues?
  • Technical Concerns
• In Summary

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it was how necessary it is to have a working knowledge of the internet. Families were forced into lockdowns, unable to communicate with their grandparents and other older relatives. If they had no knowledge of how to use the internet, taking on the phone was the only option available to them.

We would like to remind everyone, it is never too late to start learning. As the world becomes more reliant on the internet, it is time for seniors to equip themselves with some basic skills. Once you are online, some of the functions will begin to feel familiar. And gradually, you’ll have an idea of how to browse the web, and you will be able to complete simple tasks from the comfort of your home and remain connected with family and friends.

How You Can Use the Internet

The internet is huge. It can seem a little overwhelming to learn where to start. We have listed some ways you can use the internet to your advantage.

To Browse and Research

The internet can offer you resources on almost any subject you can think of. If you need to look up something online, all you need to do is type the words into a search engine. You don’t have to know the address of every site. A simple search on Goggle or Bing can help you find various sources from which you can choose.

Based on your entered words, the search engine will filter through hundreds and thousands of links, and present those that are most popular and relevant. Usually, you will be able to find what you are looking for on the very first page of the results. So, if you are in the mood for dessert, all you need to do is type, ‘Ice Cream in New Jersey’, and pick a store that will deliver the sweet treat right to your doorstep.

Banking and Finance

You can manage your finances from the comfort of your home. Instead of waiting in the long lines at the bank’s nearby branch, you can simply log in to your account and speak to someone in the customer service department. It can be tough for seniors to travel long distances, so the internet helps minimize the wait time significantly.

You can also set up your account to send you alerts and notifications. You can receive reminders to make credit card payments, you can also set up alerts for overdraft protection, and check your account statements online.

Additionally, you can also use these portals to pay for your expenses on time. So, you can make payments for electricity bills and other utilities online. If you want to make things even easier, you can also set up your account to deduct the cost of the billsautomatically. On a set day, your account will automatically withdraw money from your account to pay for the bills, even if you forget to.

You can use your online bank account to pay for other expenses as well. Your internet service provider, medical insurance, and other services can be linked to your account. With a few clicks, your bank can send payments electronically for all the services you are signed up for.

Many people don’t consider online payments to be safe, but that’s just not true. Banks have taken every precaution to offer you a convenient and safe application that you can use to make online transactions. You can take some measures to keep your accounts safe such as using long passwords, two-factor authentication, and using a secure internet connection.

Staying in Touch

If the internet has been known for one thing, it is helping people to stay in touch. Not only stay in touch with your family and friends, but also with what is happening in the world. According to a study conducted, 86% of American adults stated that they received their news updates from the internet in comparison to 32% of people who still get it from newspapers. Online news sources and social media apps can help you keep up to date with local and international news.

Not only do you keep an eye on the news, but you can also stay in touch with your friends and family, no matter where they are. Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp can help you maintain contact with all family members in creative ways. You don’t have to write long letters and text them every day. Send them images of your new outfit, or receive videos of your grandchildren. These apps have improved our connections, allowing us to feel close even though you may be hundreds of miles away.

You should have a basic understanding of the privacy settings of these social media apps. You don’t want the general public having access to all of your updates. You can choose who you would like to see your updates and interact with only those people who you want.

Seniors and elderly people may feel isolated if they live far away from their children. To overcome that loneliness, they can use various apps such as Zoom, FaceTime, and Skype that they can set up to stay in touch with them. You don’t have to pay extra for these services and keep the cameras on for as long as they would like. The ability to see the people we love can calm our anxieties and lift our spirits.

Online Shopping

Shopping isn’t fun for everyone. It’s a chore for a lot of people, who have no interest in standing in lines at the checkout counters. Now, you can place your orders for daily groceries online. You can find all the items you need through the stores’ websites and place your order. You can choose how you would like to pay for the items and have them delivered to your address.

Online applications and websites set up by stores are very easy to use. If you don’t want to go through all the categories to find what you need, you can simply type the product in the search bar to speed up the process. Once you have added all the items to the cart, all you need to do is enter your address and wait a few hours for the items to be delivered. It’s as simple as it sounds.

Protection From Online Scams

You can fall for an online scam if you are new to the online world. But they are very easy to identify if you take some precautionary measures. Firstly, you need to understand that not everything you see on the internet is true. You need to take steps to keep your accounts safe from hackers and prevent others from accessing your sensitive information.

Health Insurance

Scammers have found creative ways to swindle unsuspecting users online. They create fake portals where users unknowingly enter their Medicare plan number, which the criminals steal for their own needs. To ensure that no one else has access to your health insurance plan, you can browse through your monthly records to find any mismatch with your appointments.

You will also find fake medical insurance policies online that are being advertised to seniors. If you sign up for it, they will charge you for the plan and other services that you never accessed. It is important to remain to vary of online ads and only subscribe to new plans through verified websites and accounts.

Imitation of Health Products

There are many people out there selling counterfeit products that offer no real benefits. They claim to remove signs of gaining, improving health, grow back hair but are nothing more than bold claims. These products have not been tested and can be harmful if you use them.

Some of these scammers sell these fake products online, in authentic packaging. It can be hard to verify if you are buying an FDA-approved product or not. If you are unsure, you can visit the BeSafeRx website to find a trusted online pharmacy.

While it may be attractive to buy anti-aging products that claim to reverse wrinkling skin and loss of hair, that’s rarely the case. If the statements seem too good to be true, they probably are.

Phishing

Phishing is one of the most common ways for scammers to get your personal information. They send emails that look authentic and ask you for your sensitive information such as credit card details, social security number, login details, and other information. The emails will request the information directly, or send links that reroute you to another page to enter the details. Always remember, most authentic sources never ask for your personal information by email or phone.

While the email may seem to be authentic, you can find signs of fraud. These phishing emails will have spelling mistakes in the mail, have a long list of recipients, and have tricky names that make them seem authentic. If you feel something is wrong, you can always get in touch with the company and ask if the email is authentic or not.

Lottery Cons

You can be conned in various ways. One very common way to do that is that you will receive an online lottery email that will state that you have won a prize. The email will detail ways in which you can access the prize. If you proceed, you will be forced to enter your personal information. Lottery scams can be seen in the form of an email and also show as pop-ups on some websites that you use. The email may sound like an attractive offer, but you may end up losing a lot of money if you enter all your information.

What to Do if You Are Facing Issues?

If you think that it might be too late for you to catch up with the work, you have nothing to worry about, It is never too late to start learning something new. All you need to do is take the first step to familiarize yourself with the internet. In fact, various websites have easy-to-follow guides to help you perform simple tasks that you may think are daunting.

• Seniors can visit AARP to learn some computer skills and increase their knowledge about other internet subjects too.
• You can also find learning sources to educate yourself about different browsers, using social media apps, and more by visiting org.
• SeniorNet focuses on bridging the gap between youngsters and older users. You can communicate with other users to feel like a part of a larger community.
• TechBoomers is another online website that offers courses for beginners to learn more about online apps and how to use them safely.

You can also find non-profit organizations in your community that teach people how to use the internet. You can spend time with those people and learn how to browse the internet in a safe way. You can get all your questions answered.

Technical Concerns

For technical issues, you should contact your internet service provider. An internet service provider (ISP) is a company that offers you an internet connection. If you feel that there is a problem with the online connection, you can get in touch with them in various ways. If you are looking for an internet connection, you should consider browsing through the options listed by BuyTVInternetPhone. Here you can easily compare different plans and ISPs available at your address.

You can contact the internet service provider through their contact number and get in touch with their support staff. Customer Service is available at all times to help you out with any questions you may have.

You can also contact the departments for learning about new plans and offers that are available in your area. The online Support Centers also offer loads of resources that you can read through to help resolve the issue yourself. Some service providers also offer Customer Services in other languages to make the process even easier. If you have Spectrum internet, Servicio al cliente de spectrum can help you resolve your issues with ease.

In Summary

It is never too late to start learning. Learning about the internet may seem like a huge commitment, but it’s worth it. The more you know about online apps and websites, the easier things will become for you. If you feel you are stuck in any situation, you can find answers online or around you. All you need to do is trust yourself, and take the plunge!