For 96-year-old Greet, the digital world holds no secrets. The internet brings her connection, convenience, and joy. She taught herself to program on an Atari computer in the early 1980s—without a manual—and now uses her smartphone, laptop, tablet, and smartwatch every day. But you don’t need to be as advanced as Greet to enjoy what the online world has to offer. Here are six reasons why going online can make life more enjoyable.
Stay close to your family
For Greet, this is the main reason to go online. She sends messages, emails, makes video calls, and looks back at photos. “You can see your children and grandchildren, that’s the best part,” she says. As you get older and perhaps go out less, staying in touch becomes easier and more accessible. With just one click and a little imagination you can feel like you’re sitting together at the kitchen table. In times when loneliness (especially among older adults) can be a major issue, that kind of contact can really brighten a quiet day.
Finding information becomes easy
Greet mainly uses the internet for practical things. She looks up information about medication, for example for her little dog Wendy, or asks Google something she doesn’t want to call anyone about. “You can find anything,” she says enthusiastically. “It’s really not difficult.”
If you’d like to learn how to use the internet efficiently step by step, the Welkom Online learning programme is ideal. It helps older adults discover how to search smartly and find useful information such as travel times or details on a topic.
Clicking builds confidence (and it’s fun!)
Digital pioneer Greet learned everything through trial and error. “Just play around with it. Try a game,” she advises. “Don’t start with the difficult things straight away.” She began with simple computer games like solitaire and dominoes, just to get comfortable with the buttons. For many older people, that works well, a small practice session already gives the feeling that you can do more than you thought. The fun of learning outweighs getting everything perfect. And those games aren’t just entertaining, they also keep the mind sharp.
Editing photos is easier (and more fun) than you think
Editing photos is simpler than it looks. You can brighten them, crop them, or refresh an old picture. Many older adults are surprised by how enjoyable it is to turn an image into something beautiful. It’s a bit like putting together a photo album the old-fashioned way but faster, and with far more possibilities. Plus, this photo album fits neatly in your handbag
Watch TV shows whenever you like and relive your favourite music
The Digital TV module from Welkom Online shows how modern television technology lets you rewatch programmes, use voice control, and explore streaming services like NPO Start. For many older adults, it’s a revelation: you can watch fascinating documentaries or revisit every season of an old favourite series. And did you know that with Spotify, you can listen on your phone or computer to almost every piece of music ever made including that beloved record from years ago?
An app that simplifies letters for you
A recent addition to the Vodafone Foundation website is a clear explanation about the Lees Simpel app. You take a photo of a letter, and the app converts the text into plain, easy-to-understand language. It’s handy for anyone who struggles with small print, complicated legal terms, or technical jargon. The website shows exactly how to download and use the app.
Going online doesn’t have to be big or daunting. As Greet says: “You just have to dare to click.”
Want to become more confident online too?
Visit Welkom Online! Also good to know: from Tuesday to Friday, between 10:00 and 12:00 am there are digital walk-in sessions in Vodafone and Ziggo shops. Anyone can drop by with digital questions or for practical support using a phone or tablet, as well as advice on safe internet use. Around Black Friday and the festive season, it may be a little busier, but staff will help everyone as quickly as possible.
From 24 to 30 November, the Alliance for Digital Participation is organising the Week of Digital Inclusion: a national awareness week where organisations across the country showcase local support and services that help everyone take part in the digital society.