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While millennials couldn’t imagine their lives without social media, and generation Z entirely grew up with technology, there are people who’re genuinely struggling to make sense of this whole new tech world. Just think of your grandma and grandpa searching for the letter T on the keyboard in what feels like a solid hour-long bender.

But hey, at least they’re trying hard, and some are even learning to share a story on Facebook, call via Whatsapp, and hang out on Zoom meetings. Well, maybe not the last one.

And there’s something so charming about elderly people navigating the complex terrain of the tech world that there’s a whole subreddit, r/oldpeoplefacebook, dedicated entirely to it. Created in 2013, the community has 1 million members sharing the fun, cute, and sometimes cringe-worthy moments of elders walking in the internet jungle. “Grandma and grandpa have finally joined social media, and they love sharing their opinions with everyone,” states the description.

And as your phone buzzes with a new notification from your grandma streaming live to show how pretty her re-potted geranium looks, let me tell you, this post—you can relate.

#1

When Emojis Are Banned So You Make Your Own

When Emojis Are Banned So You Make Your Own

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#3

My Father In Law Likes To Caption Pictures Of My Pets On Facebook

My Father In Law Likes To Caption Pictures Of My Pets On Facebook

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According to a 2018 Eurostat study, 87 percent of people in Europe who are aged 75 years and over have never been online. This is partly because most current technology is designed in a way that relies on users’ ability to see, hear, and read. But many elderly are struggling to do so due to their age and health conditions.

Another study conducted by Pew Research showed that 23% of elderly people in US have a “physical or health condition that makes reading difficult or challenging.” Meanwhile, 29% said they suffer from “disability, handicap, or chronic disease that prevents them from fully participating in many common daily activities.”

The same study suggested that seniors would need assistance to learn to use social media or tech devices. Only 18% of seniors expressed that they’re comfortable with learning how to use a new technology device, and 77% said that they would rely on someone else helping them.

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Among many reasons why seniors are less likely to learn to use technology are reduced mobility and reactivity. Some elders are less likely to absorb new knowledge since they never got accustomed to technology throughout their lives, so this is truly an uncharted and very challenging terrain for them. Others struggle with touch screens due to hardened hand skin, poor eyesight, and reduced reaction.

At the end of the day, everyone is responsible for being more accepting towards seniors using technology, even if it sometimes means you should overlook their not-always-perfect attempts to master it.

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#9

My 97 Year Old Grandpa Is On Facebook. A Couple Of Years Ago He Liked A Photo Of Mine, So He Printed The Whole Page To Display It In His Home

My 97 Year Old Grandpa Is On Facebook. A Couple Of Years Ago He Liked A Photo Of Mine, So He Printed The Whole Page To Display It In His Home

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David K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He is 97 years old and apparently knows how to use Facebook and a printer. For a person of his age this is incredible. My grandpa doesn´t even know these things exist.

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#10

Granny Messaged To Wish Me Luck On My Test

Granny Messaged To Wish Me Luck On My Test

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#11

My Mom Accidentally Included A Picture Of Me Sleeping In An Ad She Posted

My Mom Accidentally Included A Picture Of Me Sleeping In An Ad She Posted

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#12

On A Photo Of My Fiance

On A Photo Of My Fiance

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#13

Apple Sauce Price At Walmart

Apple Sauce Price At Walmart

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know this will be me in a one day, hope my kid/grandkids are sweetly patient too:)

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#14

This Must Technically Count. My Aunt Just Took A Screenshot

This Must Technically Count. My Aunt Just Took A Screenshot

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#15

My Grandmothers Comment On My Photo Of Me And My 15 Year Old Cat

My Grandmothers Comment On My Photo Of Me And My 15 Year Old Cat

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#16

Name This Plant

Name This Plant

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Romenriel
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Can someone tell me what plant is it? I would guess it is from Lamiaceae family.

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#17

My Late Father, Chuck, Had To Use Speech-To-Text Which LED To Some Amazing Posts

My Late Father, Chuck, Had To Use Speech-To-Text Which LED To Some Amazing Posts

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#18

My Uncle Just Left This Comment On His Own Picture Of A Frog. There Are No Other Comments Or Likes

My Uncle Just Left This Comment On His Own Picture Of A Frog. There Are No Other Comments Or Likes

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#19

My Late Grandmother Figuring Out Her Phone

My Late Grandmother Figuring Out Her Phone

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#21

60 Year Old Coworker Has Been Texting Me Everyday For Over A Year

60 Year Old Coworker Has Been Texting Me Everyday For Over A Year

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#22

I Don't Think Grandma Knows Who Rihanna Is

I Don't Think Grandma Knows Who Rihanna Is

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Hans
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Being agnostic of so called celebrities is actually a very good idea.

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#24

Not Sure If This Belongs But This Picture My Dad Gave Me For Christmas

Not Sure If This Belongs But This Picture My Dad Gave Me For Christmas

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#25

My Grandma Thought I Love Babies Doing Yoga

My Grandma Thought I Love Babies Doing Yoga

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#26

Found This On Facebook Marketplace And Cant Stop Thinking About It

Found This On Facebook Marketplace And Cant Stop Thinking About It

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Lauren Caswell
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Even more surprisingly, the purchaser discovered that it was actually not a reflection, but a small enamel artwork. Tomorrow, on marketplace mysteries...who are the people buying the poorly executed crafts? You won't believe their stories! Until next time, dear viewers"

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#28

Aunt Gave Birth Yesterday And Grandpa Was Very Excited

Aunt Gave Birth Yesterday And Grandpa Was Very Excited

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David K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Grandpa was overly enthusiastic on a day the child was born. Normally he says 3 words an year.

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#29

Cher Accidentally Turning On Night Mode And Nancy Sinatra Telling Her To Restart...amazing

Cher Accidentally Turning On Night Mode And Nancy Sinatra Telling Her To Restart...amazing

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#30

Woke Up This Morning With A Text From Grandma

Woke Up This Morning With A Text From Grandma

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Shelp
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

?? I guess we'll never know why grandma tried to summon the allmighty one

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#31

Grandma Doesn’t Get The Joke

Grandma Doesn’t Get The Joke

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David K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, but as Yoda from Narnia says in the Harry Potter series: "The greatest teacher, failure is."

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#33

Please Not The Attorney General

Please Not The Attorney General

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#34

Grandma Said She Was In The Middle Of The Atlantic Late Last Night With No Extra Explanation

Grandma Said She Was In The Middle Of The Atlantic Late Last Night With No Extra Explanation

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#35

We Don't Deserve Debra

We Don't Deserve Debra

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#38

Congrats Jeff

Congrats Jeff

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#40

Grandma Has Seen This Man Before!!

Grandma Has Seen This Man Before!!

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Hans
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Memes and Internet illiteracy might be a bad combination...

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#41

When My Grandfather Has To Log Into Facebook, He Creates A New Account Instead. Today Is His Birthday

When My Grandfather Has To Log Into Facebook, He Creates A New Account Instead. Today Is His Birthday

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Rowlie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So far my mother only has two accounts but I think we'll get there

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#42

Lady Compliments My Profile Pic. Then 4 Months Later Mistakenly Thanks Me For Complimenting Hers

Lady Compliments My Profile Pic. Then 4 Months Later Mistakenly Thanks Me For Complimenting Hers

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#43

On A Review Of An Eye Doctor’s Office

On A Review Of An Eye Doctor’s Office

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#44

Kys

Kys

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Lisa Simpson
Community Member
4 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow, they invent their own acronyms and think everyone will get the meaning...

Emily Geels
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my grandma once did something like this, she told me BS...she meant be safe.

Erika Nichols
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There were a lot of abbreviations in the past. Lol as lots of love, swak sealed with a kiss etc.

Celtic Pirate Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I like the meme where "Grandmother" was sending out condolences on the death of a family member & kept signing off with "LOL" - she thought it meant "lots of love". Actually, so did I at first ...

SemelinaPitrone
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I though KYS was "kill yourself"... maybe i should rethink my life.

Mary Peace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was just thinking I like this, didn't know it was new - I thought it was just I hadn't seen it before.

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#47

Under A Youtube Video About Cleaning A Fish Tank Filter

Under A Youtube Video About Cleaning A Fish Tank Filter

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#49

Literally Anything Bluetooth Is A Speaker

Literally Anything Bluetooth Is A Speaker

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#51

Man's Mother Likes To Use The Microphone Function Rather Than Typing To Text While Driving

Man's Mother Likes To Use The Microphone Function Rather Than Typing To Text While Driving

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#53

Me And My Grand Children

Me And My Grand Children

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#54

Quality Content From My Nana!

Quality Content From My Nana!

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#55

My Great Aunt Has The Best Sense Of Humor

My Great Aunt Has The Best Sense Of Humor

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Ray Martin
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seems pragmatic enough. Optimistically I'll be 93, but dead is more likely for me, too.

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#56

Grandma Made A Facebook, Set This As Her Profile Picture

Grandma Made A Facebook, Set This As Her Profile Picture

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#58

My Grandma Passed Away 3 Weeks Ago. I Just Discovered Today That She Was The Infamous "Yim Yum Grandma"

My Grandma Passed Away 3 Weeks Ago. I Just Discovered Today That She Was The Infamous "Yim Yum Grandma"

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#59

My Mom Had This Printed

My Mom Had This Printed

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#63

Found In A Facebook Group

Found In A Facebook Group

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#66

My Coming Out Went Well, I Think

My Coming Out Went Well, I Think

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Finances are definitely more important than other people’s sexual preferences so I get dad’s angle.

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#67

How My Mom Shops Online

How My Mom Shops Online

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David K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don´t find this strange at all. Many people, especially the elderly, are not familiar with the concept of e-shop payments and they are worried that they could do something wrong (incorrect payment, incorrect place to deliver etc.), so they rather ask their relatives to help out. Also the pandemic keeps the shops closed in many countries, so the online shopping is the only alternative for several items, meaning that the internet illiterate people don´t have much options how to buy their gifts elsewhere.

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#68

My Mom Discovered Bitmoji's The Other Day

My Mom Discovered Bitmoji's The Other Day

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#69

Hre You Open Today

Hre You Open Today

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#70

Dr Brian May, Guitarist From Queen And Astrophysicist, Takes On Candy Crush

Dr Brian May, Guitarist From Queen And Astrophysicist, Takes On Candy Crush

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#71

My Mom Found A Blurb In The Newspaper About An App She Was Interested In And Wanted To Remember. Instead Of Taking A Picture Of It, She Cut It Out And Taped It To The Back Of Her Phone

My Mom Found A Blurb In The Newspaper About An App She Was Interested In And Wanted To Remember. Instead Of Taking A Picture Of It, She Cut It Out And Taped It To The Back Of Her Phone

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François Carré
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess this way it was much easier and faster to find the information than having to browse in her phone pics.

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#72

Grandma Writes To Facebook To Remove The File Of Her Friend Who Has Passed Away (Rip)

Grandma Writes To Facebook To Remove The File Of Her Friend Who Has Passed Away (Rip)

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David K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Philosophical question: are we still entitled to celebrate dead person´s birthday?

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#73

Grandma Is Up To 8 Stacked Profile Pic Filters Now. How Far Will She Go?

Grandma Is Up To 8 Stacked Profile Pic Filters Now. How Far Will She Go?

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#74

Grandma Joins PC Gaming Group

Grandma Joins PC Gaming Group

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#75

Linda Had 2 Egg Salad

Linda Had 2 Egg Salad

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David K
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Excuse me, Linda, but the Lord was talking to Debbie. Wait your turn.

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#76

5 Out Of 5 Stars

5 Out Of 5 Stars

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#77

My Grandmother Showing Her Support For The March For Our Lives Today

My Grandmother Showing Her Support For The March For Our Lives Today

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#78

Neil Degrasse Tyson

Neil Degrasse Tyson

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Paizleypie
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Neil deGrasse Tyson is evil incarnate . . . The man who downgraded Pluto from a planet to a dwarf.

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#79

That’s A Bit Of A Bombshell

That’s A Bit Of A Bombshell

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Happiness is Hippo
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hang on, was green posting about their egg spinach sandwich right after their mum died?

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#81

My Great Aunt's 69th Birthday Is Today

My Great Aunt's 69th Birthday Is Today

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#82

My Grandma's Profile Picture Is A Cropped Screencap Of Her In Someone's Friends Ranking, In Which She Has No Profile Picture

My Grandma's Profile Picture Is A Cropped Screencap Of Her In Someone's Friends Ranking, In Which She Has No Profile Picture

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Anon Yymi
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or it could be some meta-criticism of social media, being just a faceless nobody in someone else's friends list. 2deep4me

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#83

Banana Bread

Banana Bread

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#85

Happy Easter

Happy Easter

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sorlag110
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Mr. Steinbrenner's here, George is dead, call me back" vibes

#86

Advertising Isn't What It Used To Be

Advertising Isn't What It Used To Be

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#88

Lol No Mom

Lol No Mom

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Mewton’s Third Paw
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A common saying in real estate. But you have to think about it from a design perspective - when the linoleum went in, the wood was starting to age out of the trends of the time it was installed. So it probably just looked dated to have hardwood, and linoleum was the new thing. People will make fun of millennials for all the laminate and vinyl plank flooring and that ugly kitchen backsplash with the mini subway tiles. That uglyass farmhouse chic / Chip and Joanna style is going to look really stupid to normal people in a few years. All those sliding barn doors are gonna end up on Facebook marketplace lol

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#89

The Tabs On My Grandmother's Phone

The Tabs On My Grandmother's Phone

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