Benton Foundation Hosts ‘Getting Seniors Online’ Forum

Although seniors represent the largest age group and one of the fastest growing populations in the United States, people over the age of 65 have one of the smallest and slowest broadband adoption rates. Last month, the Benton Foundation and Connected Living – a company that provides technology training and support to seniors living in public housing and senior living communities – hosted “Getting Seniors Online,” a daylong forum dedicated to discussing ways to help senior citizens get on the winning side of the digital divide.

Several senior citizen advocacy groups, such as Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), AARP, and the Alliance for Aging, also participated in the event. “Age is a determinant factor in Internet adoption,” said Dr. Thomas Kamber, OATS executive director. “Seniors need to understand what the relative advantage of using the Internet is.” Kamber, who also believes that getting seniors online is a social justice issue, is absolutely correct.