There is much talk about stopping children from being on social media until they turn 16. Australia has already implemented such a rule and the United Kingdom is looking into it as well.
However, emerging data now shows that dependence on digital technology is increasing among adults as well. Approximately 37 per cent-58 per cent of adults who are 65 and older use social media, with numbers of self-reporting cases increasing each year.
For those aged 60–64 years, usage is higher, with some studies showing 69 per cent–83 per cent engagement, possibly owing to having increased post-retirement time.
This rising trend is concerning for a number of reasons. First, it is impacting an individual’s physical well-being as increased time online takes away from opportunities to walk, exercise or engage in other physical activities. It is also clearly impacting mental health, as there is an increased risk of depression, loneliness and low self-esteem, spurred by countless posts of supposedly motivational success stories pushed by algorithms.
Among even more senior adults, increased time spent on devices is also leading to eye strain, disturbed sleep and postural issues that are exacerbated with age.
Perhaps most importantly, dependence on digital platforms sends wrong messages to children in a household. The longer parents spend time on their devices, the more children think that it is acceptable behaviour.
By legitimising digital consumption, parents have already sent mixed messages to their children when they expect kids to read, study or otherwise engage in fruitful activities beyond the screen.
Setting an example is the most important part of parenting, and making social media the centre of family interactions, as it is rapidly becoming, is counter-productive to establishing social and familial bonds.
There is no doubt now that finding time away from digital devices is important.
An important reason for increased dependence on digital platforms for adults is the reduced opportunities they may have for social interactions. This is true in large families where other members are busy with everyday routines, or in nuclear families where couples find themselves alone once the children have left.
In both situations, a deliberate move away from excessive engagement with social media platforms needs to be implemented. This could be done in multiple ways, including joining physical clubs like reading groups, having exercise buddies, or finding a new hobby.
It can also be done by actually observing digital-free days, keeping a no-phone zone in the house, or even using an alarm to quantify time spent.
For the elderly, social media is definitely a useful way to stay connected to family and friends, bond with grandchildren who maybe far away, and even keep in touch with information and news.
Mindful use of digital technologies is very helpful. What is required is to adopt a sustainable approach which balances staying connected without becoming dependent on technology.
Sandhya Rao Mehta
The writer is Associate Professor, Sultan Qaboos University
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
