Technically, mobile phones have been in existence since 1973, when Motorola unveiled the 0G or Zero Generation phones. But as you can imagine, they’ve come a long way since then. The first cell phone that I remember my mother having was a tiny flip phone with an even tinier camera. Texting required pressing each button up to 3 times to get the correct letter that you’re looking for, and using the internet was technically possible but excruciating and expensive.

The internet has also been around for quite a while at this point, as many people consider its “birthday” to be January 1, 1983. Back then, however, it was obviously very different than how it is today. We didn’t get Google until 1998, YouTube until 2005, and the idea of spending hours and hours online each day was absurd a few decades ago. But today, the average person spends nearly 7 hours a day on the internet.

Considering how drastically technology has changed over the past few decades, it should come as no surprise that older generations often struggle to keep up with these changes. I’m Gen Z, and the idea of learning how to utilize AI technology like ChatGPT sounds overwhelming to me. So I imagine that it must be strange to have grown up without access to the internet at all and to now live in a time with smartphones, smart watches, AI, unlimited access to news and more.

It’s easy to laugh at our elders when they use electronics in questionable ways and don’t understand how to accomplish simple tasks like taking screenshots and printing out recipes. But in only a few decades, we might be just as technologically illiterate. So it’s best to be patient and understanding with our parents and grandparents and try to slowly teach them how to use technology to make their lives easier.    

If you’re a millennial or zoomer who’s interested in helping your parents or grandparents get accustomed to the latest technology, Papa Inc. has some recommendations on their site for bringing these older generations into the 21st century. First, they note the importance of addressing security concerns before sending seniors out into the Wild West of the world wide web. Scams and fraud run rampant online, and many perpetrators target older, less technologically savvy individuals. They must all know not to talk to strangers on the phone or provide any personal information online. And of course, don’t click on random links!    

It’s wise to take it slowly when teaching older generations about new technology too. Things that may seem extremely simple to you can be complex for them, and there’s no point in teaching a loved one if it’s only going to overwhelm them and stress them out. Go slowly, and be patient. Answer all the questions they have, and don’t make them feel dumb for asking whatever questions come up. Try not to overload them with information; there’s no rush to learning! 

Papa Inc. also recommends keeping notes and writing down things that can help seniors have an easier time online. Write down their passwords, important email addresses and websites they’ll want to visit frequently. Provide them with instructions for how to get to these sites when you’re not around, and write down the answers to any questions you ask so they’ll be easily accessible in the future. It’s hard to remember everything at once, and seniors will likely feel more comfortable if they have something physical they can rely on, such as a notepad or piece of paper. 

Your senior parents and grandparents probably won’t be using the internet the exact same way you do, so if you’re teaching them how to use tech, be sure to consider what they will want to do. They might not need TikTok and Instagram on their smartphones, but they might like to have a few games and news apps. And remember to adapt their devices to their needs. Make font sizes larger, and show them how to use voice text. They might also prefer using voice controls to typing, so make sure they know how to program their devices to make them as user friendly as possible.  

When it comes to smartphones in particular, Business Insider recommends a few ways that we can program seniors’ devices to make them more accessible. Aside from increasing font sizes and display sizes, it’s also possible to increase contrast, bold text and more. You can even make the keyboard larger on smartphone screens. Helping seniors organize their home screen can be useful too. Place everything that they need easily visible, and uninstall anything they won’t use to eliminate confusion.     

Setting up favorites can be helpful for seniors’ phones too. On iPhones, users can pin contacts in the Messages app to make them easily accessible, and you can even make a Favorites section in your contacts. You can also select custom ringtones for specific contacts, so seniors will know exactly who is calling without even needing to look at their phone screen. And don’t forget to add medical information and emergency contacts into seniors’ phones to ensure they can easily be found in the event of an emergency.  

Whether you’re a senior who knows how to use technology well or you’re a millennial whose parents struggle to use smartphones, we hope you’re enjoying these pics, pandas. Technology can be extremely hard to learn! And even if we think we know everything now, there will always be more to learn in the future. Keep upvoting the pics you find particularly funny, and then you can check out even more funny technological fails from Bored Panda right here!