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Wired Wisdom

How to Age Better Online

A surprising window into the online lives of people sixty and over—offering essential insights, no matter your age.


Many popular accounts say the older you are, the greater your tech struggles. And it’s worrying to think of loved ones emailing cringe-worthy misinformation, falling for phishing attacks, or becoming lonelier with increasing time spent online.  


But in their eye-opening book on the internet’s fastest-growing demographic, researchers Eszter Hargittai and John Palfrey offer a more nuanced picture—debunking common myths about older adults’ internet use to offer hope and a necessary call to action. Incorporating original interviews and survey results from thousands of people sixty and over, Wired Wisdom shows that many, in fact, use technology in ways that put younger peers to shame. Over-sixties are often nimble online and quicker to abandon social media platforms that don’t meet their needs. Despite being targeted more often, they also may be less likely to fall for scams than younger peers. And fake news actually fools fewer people over sixty, who have far more experience evaluating sources and detecting propaganda. Still, there are unseen risks and missed opportunities for this group. Hargittai and Palfrey offer practical advice and show that our stereotypes can be hurdles that keep us from building intergenerational support communities, helping loved ones adopt new technology that may improve their lives, and thriving together online.
 

272 pages | 14 line drawings, 4 tables | 5 1/2 x 8 1/2 | © 2025

Digital Studies

Sociology: Social Gerontology

Reviews

“At last we have the book about mastering the digital world that has long been needed. Whether you are fifty or one hundred, you’ll benefit enormously from reading Wired Wisdom.”

Howard Gardner, author of A Synthesizing Mind

“By shining a light on the challenges and opportunities that older people experience in our digital world, Hargittai and Palfrey invite all of us to be more thoughtful about how we support the online lives of those whose years on this earth surpass ours.”

danah boyd, author of It's Complicated

“This is a useful, practical, and urgently needed book. As someone who regularly interacts with a large community of online elders, I can imagine this book will validate their lived experiences.”

Gina Neff, coauthor of Human-Centered Data Science

Wired Wisdom is an important, accessible book that should be read by anyone with an interest in the internet, social media, and emerging digital technologies.”

William Dutton, author of The Fifth Estate

Table of Contents

1. Wired Wisdom
2. Adoption: Are Older People Less Likely to Use New Tech?
3. Support: How Do Over-Sixties Seek Help?
4. Safety and Security: The Greater the Age, the Easier the Target?
5. Privacy: What’s Worth the Price of Personal Data?
6. Misinformation: Why Do Skeptics Spread Fake News?
7. Well-Being: Does Tech Increase Loneliness?
8. Learning: Can New Tech Teach New Tricks?
9. Lessons—For Older Adults, Their Families, Friends, and Society
10. Top Ten Takeaways

Acknowledgments
Methodological Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index

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