With every generational change comes a lot of disagreement and incongruence in opinions and thoughts on the future – it’s normal, it’s human nature. The youth grow older, hanging onto the ideas that were innovative and revolutionary during their time, and their children come up with ideas that directly challenge those of their parents. Whether it’s social disagreement or the development of new technology, it’s a normal progression!
Boomers and Technology
However, while there have always been massive changes from one generation to the next – whether we’re talking about the Middle Ages or the 19th century – there’s no doubt about the fact that innovations in technology have been pretty drastic since the time of the Baby Boomers’ prime.
Boomers certainly did play a massive role in contributing to tech – from inventing the internet and being part of space exploration – but technology has since changed even more. Most notably, it’s become part of everybody’s daily lives, which is a far cry from what boomers are used to from their youth!
Extending Sympathy
So, we’ve got to be sympathetic when they struggle to keep up. It’s no wonder they get overwhelmed and end up being totally out of touch with technology! But we can help them, and although it can be frustrating, there are several things you can do to make the process easier.
Here are 8 tips for dealing with boomers who are completely out of touch with technology.
1. Be Patient
This ought to be something you carry with you in all spheres of life, but patience goes a long way in dealing with difficult situations – and it may seem trivial, but trying to help a boomer understand technology can be pretty difficult.
Remember, they didn’t grow up with this tech – they’ve had to learn all about it and how to use it as adults, and that’s totally different from growing up with it being the norm. Some things that may seem like second nature to you (like clicking a computer mouse, for instance) may seem super complicated to somebody else.
So, whether you’re trying to understand a question or explain something to a boomer, always be patient. Because, remember – they were young once too, and that means that one day, you’ll be in their shoes!
2. Find Out What They’re Keen on Learning
When it comes to trying to teach a boomer about technology, you’re far more likely to be successful if you’re teaching them about something they’re actually interested in knowing. Don’t just pick a random piece of technology or a concept and then dive right in. Rather, talk to them, find out what they’re interested in or what they think would be beneficial for them to learn, and go from there. You’re far more likely to have a willing student if they’re invested in what they’re learning!
3. Evaluate Their Competency
Before you start teaching a boomer something related to technology, make sure you have a good idea of their competency levels. There’s no point in diving right into something like surfing the Internet when they don’t even understand how to turn on a computer.
Not only is there no point in doing this, but you also risk making them feel stupid by making things too complicated too quickly.
4. Start Simple
Once you know where they stand, you need to make a judgment call on what you want to start teaching them. And the best thing to do is always start a little more simply than you think necessary. Worst-case scenario, they already know what they’re doing and you just move on to something more complex! And even if that happens, they’ll have a sense of achievement, which is always good for morale.
5. Remember, They Were Young Once Too
Just like you’re young now and they seem old to you, they felt the same way as you do now – in fact, they probably felt just as frustrated with older generations as you do! So, just because they’re not tech-savvy doesn’t mean they’re stupid – it’s just the circle of life.
6. Don’t Force Them to Use Technology They Don’t Necessarily Need
Technology may be a major part of your life and it may make your life a whole lot easier, but that doesn’t mean that everybody else has to use it too. Sure, you can encourage them to use it and try to teach them, but if they’re not keen, then leave it alone. And more importantly, if it’s something they don’t even need, then don’t force them!
7. Respect Their Way of Doing Things
Everybody, and every generation, has a different mindset and a different way of doing things. Just because boomers do things differently from you doesn’t mean one way is necessarily better than the other. So, respect their way of doing things.
8. Be Kind
Last but not least, be kind. Just because a boomer doesn’t know how to use all the latest technology or doesn’t have much interest in it, that doesn’t mean they’re stupid or living in the past. Let them be. If they want to learn, teach them. If you teach them, take it slow and be patient. Most importantly, always remember to be kind.
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