Seniors learn to safely navigate digital world through tech literacy program in Fayetteville
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- A first-of-its-kind technology literacy program in Fayetteville is helping seniors navigate the digital world with confidence, thanks to lessons from a new generation of tech-savvy instructors.
At the Bill Crisp Senior Center, adults 55 and older are gathering for a one-hour workshop designed to teach safe device practices, social media basics, flyer creation, and even a crash course in Gen Z lingo.
For 70-year-old Linda Mack, learning to create videos on her phone is more than a new skill, it's a way to connect across generations.
"It's a way to bridge that gap. You know, as the teenagers get older, sometimes they get distant, you know, from their grandparents. So if they would just embrace, you know, the technology and share it with their grandparents or to give them something to have in common," Mack said.
The sessions, led by members of the Fayetteville-Cumberland Youth Council, include practical tips, like how to tell if your phone is actually recording video.
"One of the things that you have to make sure you see is - something I do sometimes - you have to make sure the numbers are moving, because if you see the numbers moving, that lets you know you're actually recording," Mack said after class, beaming with pride at her new skills.
18-year-old Trevor Mayfield Jr., an instructor with the youth council, finds the experience rewarding as well.
"The crying (emoji) one that, you know, Gen Z typically uses it, the laughing one we, we included that, you know, just in case they wanted to be like tapped in like that with like Gen Z," he explained.
Mayfield said the class is also teaching him patience. "It's kind of like endearing to see them like, you know, want to learn," he said. "I think generally I'm not a very patient person, but for this, uh, like in general, it's definitely helping me with that."
Participants also learn how to identify online scams, a skill Mack says is crucial. "Having a class that will teach us how to recognize these types of scams, I think, is very beneficial because, as I said, we sometimes lead with emotion and we don't really think until it's too late," she said.
Mayfield acknowledges the generational gap that the class is working to close. "There's a big disconnect between where we are currently and technology and then where, uh, older folks are."
All summer classes are free for seniors. The next session is scheduled for Monday, June 22.
Summer session schedule below
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