America's Elderly Seem More Screen-Obsessed Than the Young (economist.com) 38
An anonymous reader quotes a report from The Economist: Many parents and grandparents will grumble about today's screen-obsessed youth. Indeed, researchers find that millennials look at their phones more than 150 times a day; half of them check their devices in the middle of the night; a third glance at them immediately after waking up. And yet, when all screens are accounted for, it is in fact older folk who seem most addicted. According to Nielsen, a market-research firm, Americans aged 65 and over spend nearly ten hours a day consuming media on their televisions, computers and smartphones. That is 12% more than Americans aged 35 to 49, and a third more than those aged 18 to 34 (the youngest cohort for whom Nielsen has data). American seniors "spend an average of seven hours and 30 minutes in front of the box, about as much as they did in 2015," the report says. "The spend another two hours staring at their smartphones, a more than seven-fold increase from four years ago."
Millennials have increased the time they spend on their mobile devices, but it's been largely offset by their dwindling interest in TV. As for teenagers, a report from 2015 by Common Sense Media "found that American teens aged 13-18 spent about six hours and 40 minutes per day on screens: slightly more than Nielsen recorded for 18- to 34-year-olds that year, but less than older generations."
Millennials have increased the time they spend on their mobile devices, but it's been largely offset by their dwindling interest in TV. As for teenagers, a report from 2015 by Common Sense Media "found that American teens aged 13-18 spent about six hours and 40 minutes per day on screens: slightly more than Nielsen recorded for 18- to 34-year-olds that year, but less than older generations."
Should this really be a surprise? (Score:5, Insightful)
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See what you were missing?
The eloquent AC... Not just a pickle in the anus; but a name brand, vinegar-preserved, cucumber of generous girth.
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This.
Not to mention many of their friends have died or moved away to live with their children. Spouses pass away, or get moved into nursing homes, etc.
Getting old sucks for so many reason, loneliness being one of the major sucks.
Re:Should this really be a surprise? (Score:4, Insightful)
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Growing up together, TV and baby boomers were a perfect fit [seattletimes.com]
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Even before they got old, the boomers were (famously) the TV generation.
And now that we are on fixed incomes, streaming is an even more attractive alternative to cable than it is for the young whippersnappers.
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I love how all the old people on this comments section are quickly trying to justify their reasons for spending more screen time than the young whom they hypocritically admonish frequently for the same activities. Anyway, the millennials have as much justification for spending screen time as your withered ass does. Sorry you got caught with your pants down and are not willing to apologize. Oh and fuck you.
Only the ones that might care what anyone thinks about their screen time. I suggest that you double up on your Zoloft.
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"whom they hypocritically admonish frequently for the same activities."
Generalize much? Not all of the oldsters out there do this. Maybe not many. How Gen X of you :)
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Yeah, the young have knees that work properly. I walked on the beach for like an hour today and mine are throbbing. And I'm not even old enough to get a senior discount, by some distance. I should be though, since I'm tall and statistically will live a shorter time.
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Introvert computer geeks don't grow old, their carcases just pass warranty with too many bugs in the systems causing slow it down so much, a BSOD triggers and a reboot is required. Just part of a bigger system better to be good than bad, otherwise you'll spend that reset in the dark place, rather than working on an upgrade in the light.
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Introvert computer geeks don't grow old, their carcases just pass warranty with too many bugs in the systems causing slow it down so much, a BSOD triggers and a reboot is required.
In my case, the occasional kernel panic.
I bet nothing has really changed much in decades (Score:2)
When I was a little kid, I remember my parents hiring a retired lady to be our part-time babysitter/nanny until my mom got home from work each afternoon. All she did was sit in front of our TV and watch all of her favorite soaps and sitcoms, until/unless it was time to do something for us like making our food or us harassing her to help us with something or other.
Now, instead of only have television as the screen option, you've got all these other choices like iPads or Android tablets or special-purpose ha
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Internet is so much better than non-interactive TVs!
Yeah! More lawn time for me! (Score:2)
With all of those elderly folks having their eyes glued to their screens, it means that I have more time to have a romp on their front lawns, without being chased off by them!
I think I'll start trying this out tomorrow, and would encourage other Slashdotters to do the same!
Old guy here (Score:3)
Can confirm. I don't have a smart phone, and work on a computer 8 to 10 hours a day, but I spend most of my free time staring at the television.
The diagnostic is pretty clear (Score:2)
"The spend another two hours staring at their smartphones, a more than seven-fold increase from four years ago."
Yep. Alzeimer tends to get worse after 4 years.
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"The spend another two hours staring at their smartphones, a more than seven-fold increase from four years ago."
Yep. Alzeimer tends to get worse after 4 years.
I wonder if they've taken into account that many oldsters have only recently picked up smartphones?
People like to communicate (Score:1)
The only difficult tricks are addiction, brand loyalty, trust, security and monetization.
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Maybe they need ... (Score:2)
... glasses now.
Internet FTW. (Score:2)
Interacting with the Internet like social networks lets people socialize (like what I am doing right now!) and do whatever compared to one ways TVs which is boring.
TV (Score:2)
once you get old enough, most of your friends died (or don't know who you are anymore), you've become less mobile, it's difficult to walk & get out, what else is there left to do then watch TV all day? it's basically your only contact to the oudside world you have left.
for now, i do think TV still captures most of the screentime of the old timers, that will change as those that grew up with internet access have grown old.
Maybe if children and relatives (Score:2)
I'm waiting for the younger generation here for all their excuses why they ignore their older relatives, and why it is a joke that the elderly spend time online.
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Actually spent some time with the people that raised them. You would not have the elderly spending so much time online. I will say this though. Most elderly i know, love to read. With the loss of eyesight that occurs with advancing years. Technology(online) gives them a way to continue to enjoy these type of activities. I'm waiting for the younger generation here for all their excuses why they ignore their older relatives, and why it is a joke that the elderly spend time online.
Fear. So many people have bought into the idea that they will live forever, and can beat the aging effects of time.
And yet, there are all these wrinkly olde fartes around that provide worrying evidence against that.
The joke such as it is, is on them.
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Think about this. People are living longer and longer as we have more and more medical advances. I hope you live a long time in the state that I described above. You deserve all the pain and suffering that I described.
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No, actually. The joke is on you. You will be there some day. I hope you are alone, sick, and lonely. With nobody who cares about you so that you suffer by yourself. I hope your mind leaves you and you are in constant pain. Think about this. People are living longer and longer as we have more and more medical advances. I hope you live a long time in the state that I described above. You deserve all the pain and suffering that I described.
You have some severe problems there muchacho.
Not that I believe in Karma - but many people do,
The things that you would wish on to me,
might just end up on you
Meantime, let no cloud diminish the brightness of your day, may you find love in all of your pursuits, and a wealth of all the good things in life. Long life, good health, and much love await you.
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Between some subredits and sites like Royal Road, there is a very large and growing body of free literature out there.
With very little effort I have found a number of quality on-going stories that I follow, to the point that my computer-game time has substantially reduced.
I have Sunday brunch with my parents and some of my siblings/nieces/nephews every week(unless they are driving around the country in their RV or are otherwise unavailable).
Mostly TV (Score:1)
As above, it's mostly TV because that requires less interaction, and the elderly were not raised with computers, let alone smart phones. They can barely use a cell phone even with extensive training. (Personal experience showing someone how to use one...)