Hello and welcome back to the Paddock Room. I'm Margo and I'm here with Wayne and this
is Talking Tech with Wayne. The podcast dedicated to discussing smartphones, smart homes, and
all those things in between. This show is a promise of information freely given to all
that seek it and that is a pact between us and all of you. Log into our website www.talking-tech.org
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Tech discussion group to your local church or community center. We also have a helpline
where trained technicians are ready to answer your questions 24-7 and best of all it's 100%
free. That number is 215-406-HELP. 215-406-4357. Today we'll be discussing internet and email
for seniors. These tools have become integral to our lives and seniors need to know how to
use them effectively. Today we will discuss among other things how to set up and use email.
So let's start with the basics. Wayne, what is email and why is it important for seniors?
Email short for electronic mail is a method of exchanging messages between people using
digital devices. Seniors need to use email because it's a fast, efficient and cost-effective
way to communicate with family and friends and receive important information and updates
from various organizations. That's great to hear. How can our listeners set up an email
account? Setting up an email account is easy and free. The first step is to choose an email
provider such as Gmail, Yahoo or Outlook. Then go to the provider's website and follow
the instructions to create an account. You must provide personal information such as
your name, birth date and phone number. That sounds easy enough. What are some tips for
choosing a secure and reliable email provider? Some things to look for are providers with
a clean and easy to navigate site and robust spam filters. It is also important to choose
a provider with a good reputation and a long service history. That's great advice. How
can they start using it once they've set up their email account? To start using email,
you must first log into your email account using your username and password. Once you're
logged in, they can start sending and receiving emails. Those are some great tips. Are there
other things seniors should be aware of when using email? Yes, seniors should be aware of
email scams also known as phishing. These fraudulent emails trick people into providing personal
information or clicking on a malicious link. It's important to be cautious of emails that
ask for personal information or come from unknown senders.
That's important to keep in mind. Thank you for those insights on setting up and using
email. Now Wayne, let's talk about safe internet practices for seniors. What things should seniors
keep in mind to stay safe while using the internet?
There are several things they should keep in mind to stay safe while using the internet.
First and foremost, they should also always use strong and unique passwords for all of
their online accounts. They should also be cautious of suspicious emails or links and
avoid downloading attachments from unknown senders. We should all be mindful of the information
we share online and avoid posting personal information like phone numbers or home addresses.
Those are some great tips. What about online shopping or banking? How can we ensure our
financial information is safe? Online shopping and banking can be convenient,
but you should be cautious when entering your financial information online. They should
only shop or bank on reputable websites and avoid entering sensitive information on public
or unsecured Wi-Fi networks. They should also regularly check their bank and credit card
statements for unauthorized transactions. That's important to keep in mind. Wayne, what
about social media? How can our listeners use it safely?
Social media can be a great way for seniors to stay connected with family and friends.
They should be cautious about the information you share online. They should also avoid posting
personal information like their home address or phone numbers and be careful of accepting
friend requests from strangers. It is also important to regularly check their privacy
settings to ensure that they only share information with people you trust.
Those are some great suggestions. Wayne, thank you for your insights on safe internet practices
for seniors. Now, let's talk about social media. Social media has become popular for
people to connect and share information online. How can seniors benefit from using social
media? Social media can be a great way for seniors to
stay connected with family and friends, especially if they live far away. This can be one way
to stay informed about news and events and connect with light-minded individuals with
similar interests. Additionally, social media can be a way for seniors to share their experiences
and knowledge. That's great to hear. What are some popular
social media platforms that seniors can use? Some popular social media platforms are Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Facebook is a great platform for connecting with family
and friends. At the same time, Twitter and Instagram are good for following news and
interest. LinkedIn is a professional networking platform
can be helpful for seniors who are looking for work or want to connect with others in
their industry. Those are important things to keep in mind.
Are there any other benefits to using social media for seniors?
Social media can also be a way for seniors to find support and community. There are many
online groups and forums where seniors can connect with others going through similar
experiences, whether caregiving, health issues, or hobbies and interests.
That's a great point. Thank you for those insights on social media. Now let's talk
about how seniors can use the Internet to stay informed. The Internet is a vast information
resource, but navigating it can be overwhelming. What are some tips for them to keep informed
online? There are several tips. First, they should
choose reliable and trustworthy sources for information such as established news organizations
or government websites. They should also be cautious of fake news and clickbait headlines
that may not be accurate. Additionally, seniors can subscribe to e-mail
newsletters or follow social media accounts of organizations or causes they are interested
in. Wayne, those are great tips. Are there any
specific websites or resources that you would recommend for seniors?
Many websites and resources can be helpful for seniors to stay informed. Some popular
news websites include CNN, BBC, and NRP. The National Institute on Aging and Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention are also great resources for health information. Finally,
AARP and Senior Corps are two organizations that provide information and resources specifically
for seniors. Those are great resources. What about online learning? Are there any websites
or resources that seniors can use to learn new skills or information?
Yes, there are many online learning resources available. Websites like Coursera and Udemy
offer online courses on various topics, including computer skills, languages, and hobbies. Additionally,
YouTube is a great resource for instructional videos on a variety of topics.
That's great to hear. Thank you for those insights. Now, let's talk about online shopping
for seniors. Online shopping has become a convenient and popular way to shop, but it can also come
at risk. What are some tips for seniors to shop online safely?
There are several tips for shopping online safety. First, they should only shop on reputable
established websites with secure payment methods. They should also be cautious of deals that
seem to give me true and avoid entering sensitive information on public or unsecured Wi-Fi networks.
Additionally, seniors should regularly check their bank and credit card statements for
unauthorized transactions. Wayne, those are important things to keep in mind. Are there
any benefits to shopping online for seniors? Yes, there are several benefits to shopping
online for seniors. Online shopping can be convenient, especially for seniors with mobility
issues or who live far, far away from stores. They can also offer a wider selection of products
and more competitive pricing. Additionally, many online stores offer free or discounted
shipping, which can be a cost-effective option for seniors.
That's great to hear. What are some popular online shopping websites that seniors can
use? Some popular online shopping sites that seniors
can use include Amazon, Walmart, Target, and eBay. These websites offer a wide range of
products and competitive pricing, many of which offer free or discounted shipping.
Those are great suggestions. What about online grocery shopping? Is that an option for seniors?
Online grocery shopping has become increasingly popular, especially during the pandemic. Many
grocery stores now offer online ordering and delivery or pickup options, which can be convenient
for seniors who have difficulty getting to stores. Some popular grocery delivery services
include Instacart, Shipped, and Amazon Fresh. That's a great option. Before we wrap up this
episode, Wayne, do you have any final thoughts on online shopping for seniors?
My final thought is that online shopping can be a convenient and cost-effective option
for seniors, but it's also important to shop safely and only on reputable websites. Seniors
should also check regularly their bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions.
Online grocery shopping can also be convenient for seniors who have difficulty getting to
the store. Thank you. As with all of the information we
share here, flex your Google search muscles, log into our website, www.talking-tech.org,
or call our helpline. That number is 215-406-HELP. That's 215-406-457.
Well, I see that's all the time I have for today. It has been my pleasure to be here
and I look forward to the next time we can do it again. I wish you all a farewell.
The Talking Tech with Wayne podcast was produced by Gray Geek Productions, hosted by Margo
Jones and Wayne Hunter. Music was Transpacer Blue Jazz by Stefan Kartenberg.