Senior citizens are embracing the internet, but often in the wrong way

Facebook feels like a wizarding world to Fatema Akhter, a 58-year-old widow living with her son and daughter-in-law in an apartment in Mirpur. She spends most of her days at home, casually scrolling through her social media newsfeed. Every now and then, she searches for or posts about certain items, only to find an influx of ads for those exact products crowding her feed shortly thereafter.

To her surprise, some Facebook-based shops offer those items at prices much lower than expected, making it hard for Fatema to resist. Despite both her son and daughter-in-law advising her to consult them before making any purchases online, she hesitates to bother them during their busy workdays. Instead, she places the orders herself, often paying in advance to the so-called F-commerce shops. Most of the time, she never hears back from them after making the payment.

"I've been cheated by at least 10 sellers this way," Fatema admitted. However, when asked if she had learned her lesson, she responded with a shy smile. "Every time, I tell myself it's the last time. But somehow, I just can't stop."

Fatema has a well-articulated defence. "What else can I do all day? Shopping is one thing that makes me happy, but at my age, with the crowds, traffic, and air pollution outside, I can't go out very often. So, online shopping is my only option."

For Jashim Hawladar, now nearing his 70s, the internet has become the prime source of acquiring news. He cannot read the tiny fonts of the newspapers anymore. The two-minute packages of TV news channels also cannot satisfy his appetite. So, nowadays he mostly relies on YouTube videos, and believes, "They are much more authentic, timely and in-depth than any mainstream media could offer." He shares these videos on Facebook and forwards the links to his peers and younger relatives on WhatsApp.

However, he concedes that getting news online is not without its downsides. 

For example, there was a time when he almost believed a story claiming that the Myanmar army had invaded Bangladesh, and he eagerly shared the news with everyone he knew. Eventually, the story turned out to be a hoax, and some people, including his daughter and nephews, scolded him for not only viewing such news but also sharing it.

There was another time when he clicked on a link that promised him a shot at winning the latest iPhone, but actually resulted in his Facebook account being compromised. He did not even remember the password to his account, let alone other security details. So, he had his grandchildren set up a new account for him. 

Raisha (not her real name), a 27-year-old private job holder, shared that during the Covid-19 pandemic, when her parents living in their hometown in Rajbari were stuck at home, she decided to buy both of them smartphones. Until that point, both used feature phones without internet access.

"And that's when the trouble began," Raisha sighed, her voice tinged with regret. "My parents are generally amicable people. But once they started watching videos on YouTube and Facebook reels, a new side of them emerged. Now, they sometimes share hate speeches directed at certain minority groups on their timeline."

She went on to say that while she found this new behaviour by her parents somewhat unsettling, she made an effort to explain that not everything they see or hear online is true. "They generally try to listen to me and prioritise my opinion, but I can sense their mindset is gradually changing, and it really worries me."

While there are no definitive statistics on how many elderly individuals in the country are now using smartphones and the internet, as most devices are purchased by their children or younger family members, reports indicate a sharp rise in this trend, particularly since the coronavirus pandemic.

Experts attribute this trend to several factors, with loneliness and lack of things to do in big cities like Dhaka, and offer suggestions for creating a safer online space, along with better offline alternatives.

Dr Rasel Hussain, assistant professor of Sociology at East West University, explains the reason behind loneliness among elderly people, which leads them to become more and more dependent on technology and the internet. 

According to him, due to the rise of individualism, there is a decrease of social interaction with family members, relatives, neighbours and communities, not only in urban areas but also in villages.  

In addition, the social environment and the process of socialisation today are increasingly shaped by technology, which contrasts sharply with the more community-oriented connections of traditional society. 

As a result, many elderly individuals, feeling isolated and without anyone to talk to or share their experiences with, turn to platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and other social media platforms to pass the time.

"Digitalisation of everything also makes them more technology dependent. Social tensions are on the rise, thus they are always panicked about each and everything, which brings them closer to technology to access news, information and so on," Dr Hussain added. 

Dr Nawshad Ahmed, a retired UN officer, economist and urban planner, observed that loneliness among elderly citizens is closely linked to the fact that the major cities in Bangladesh, especially Dhaka, were not designed with today's population density in mind. As a result, with so many people packed into the city at the moment, there are insufficient amenities and facilities that cater to specific age groups.

With the average life expectancy now reaching 73 years, this issue is becoming particularly concerning for elderly individuals. 

For instance, in many modern city markets, there are dedicated corner shops for elderly people, where they can spend time and purchase what they need or simply want. However, such spaces are lacking in Dhaka and other cities across Bangladesh.

"Even if you look at the last remaining parks or open fields in Dhaka, such as Suhrawardy Udyan, they aren't particularly senior-friendly. While elderly people may go there to walk or exercise, after a while, they need a place to sit and rest. Do we have enough benches for that? Unfortunately, no," Dr Ahmed said.

He recommended implementing several measures for elderly people in large cities, such as opportunities for cycling, exercise, reading in libraries, and cultural activities, which would allow senior citizens to engage in enjoyable pastimes and connect with others of the same age group.

"If senior citizens are given adequate opportunities to socialise with their peers, it could help alleviate their boredom and loneliness, and improve their overall mental health, which is largely neglected at the moment," the economist and urban planner said.

Meanwhile, Tanvir Mahtab Abir, a senior fact checker at Rumor Scanner, believes that elderly citizens are particularly vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation, often contributing to its spread due to their tendency to be more trusting and impressionable towards sensitive issues.

He shared an example where he saw some elderly people sharing posts about missing children from as far back as two years ago, which contributed to a recent online frenzy. Facebook became flooded with similar posts about children going missing in various parts of the country, leading many to believe there was a "large-scale conspiracy" unfolding within the country.

"And when senior citizens share such things, some young people who look up to them also tend to believe them, thinking that if something is shared by such an esteemed person, it must be true. Unfortunately though, many elderly people are easily swayed by clickbait news," Abir said.

He recommended that this issue could be addressed by running awareness campaigns through mainstream media, such as newspapers and TV channels, to educate the public about fake news and emphasise the importance of trusting only authentic sources of information.

B M Zahid ul Haque, a cyber security strategist, also weighed in on the fact that while the usage of smartphones and the internet is rising among senior citizens, they are not technically knowledgeable and literate enough to distinguish between the right and wrong online, unlike their younger counterparts. 

Aware of their vulnerability, fraudsters and scammers often target the elderly, particularly in financial matters, making them prime victims of online economic scams. 

Sufficient initiatives have not been taken to address this issue. He suggested that various stakeholders could collaborate to mitigate the risks.

"Many fraudulent activities are carried out under the guise of banking agents, so banks could offer specialised sessions for their elderly customers to ensure they don't fall victim to such scams. And similar campaigns can be run by others as well, especially through community-based clubs," Zahid explained.