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.

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.