Too Old for Tech? Or Just Unwilling to Learn?
Too Old for Tech? Or Just Unwilling to Learn?
“I’m too old for this tech.”
“I didn’t grow up with all this.”
“Why do I need to learn this?”
“That’s for young people.”
I hear variations of these statements all the time. And while I understand that learning something new can be uncomfortable, especially when you didn’t grow up with it, age isn’t the problem. Mindset is.
I recently listened to an interesting episode of The Tech Jawn, hosted by Terrence, Rob, and Stephanie. For this particular episode, Rob and Terrence conducted the interview while Stephanie was absent.
Their guest was Rose Kenney, a woman in her early 70s who has made it her mission to help older adults learn technology.
They discussed everyday tasks like taking screenshots, sending pictures, downloading apps, managing passwords, and setting up health portals.
One point stood out to me: Don't take the device out of someone's hands and do it for them. Walk them through it.
Explain the steps, show them how and why something works, and let them practice. Ask questions and make them comfortable enough to ask for help again. The goal isn't just to complete a task for someone; it's to help them learn how to do it themselves.
I agree with this approach. But learning also requires a willingness to try.
Learning Doesn't Have an Expiration Date
My brother and I often tell the story of our father, who passed away at 69.
He never stopped learning. He never said he was too old or that something was just for young people.
At one point, he had both a Windows computer and a Mac. His company used both operating systems, even though he only needed one for his own job.
He wanted to know how to use both because he understood that his company might eventually prefer one over the other. He wanted to be prepared and know all the ways he could do his job.
He could have stuck with what he already knew, but he understood that continuing to learn could help him remain valuable to his company and create opportunities for advancement.
That example has stayed with me. What you know today might not be enough for where you need to go tomorrow.
Learning shouldn't stop because you've reached a certain age or become comfortable with a particular way of doing things.
People Learn What They Want to Learn
I see people of all ages figuring things out when they want to know something.
Some can Google every detail about their favorite celebrity, find obscure facts to settle a random argument, or tell you practically every sports statistic imaginable.
But ask them to send an email, download an app, or complete a basic task on their phone, and suddenly, technology becomes too complicated.
That's the contradiction I'm talking about.
People already know how to search for information, watch videos, and find answers when something interests them. Why not apply those same skills to something that could make everyday life easier?
You don't have to become a technology expert. But instead of immediately saying, “I don't know how to do that,” try saying, “I don't know how to do that yet, but I'm willing to learn.”
One approach closes the door. The other gives you somewhere to start.
Understand It Before You Dismiss It
Another example is social media.
I've heard people say they won't use Facebook because they don't want to put their entire lives online. I understand wanting privacy, but that's not how you have to use these platforms.
You can create an account, learn the basic features, adjust your privacy settings, and choose what you share. You can simply follow people and read posts without publishing your personal life for everyone to see.
And if you decide it's not for you, you can close your account.
My point isn't that everyone needs a Facebook account. It's that we shouldn't let worst-case scenarios become an excuse for never learning how something works.
Learn how to open an account, understand the basic settings, know how to manage your information, and learn how to close it. Then you can make an informed decision about whether the platform offers anything useful to you.
The same principle applies to other technologies. You don't have to use every app or adopt every new tool, but understanding the basics gives you more choices.
Technology can help us communicate, find information, manage our lives, and discover opportunities. Knowing how these tools work allows us to decide for ourselves how much we want to use them.
You Don't Have to Figure It Out Alone
If you're starting from ground zero, technology can feel overwhelming. You might not know the terminology, which questions to ask, or where to begin.
That's okay. Start with one task you want to accomplish.
Find a tutorial, article, or video that explains it in a way you understand. Ask someone to walk you through the steps if needed. Practice, make mistakes, and try again.
And if you're helping someone else learn, remember Rose Kenney's advice: guide them rather than taking over. Be patient, explain the process, and encourage them to practice. They may need help more than once, and that's perfectly fine.
The goal isn't to get everything right the first time. It's to become more capable with each attempt.
I try to learn a little about different areas of technology. Some things stick, others don't, and some eventually become irrelevant. I don't need to know everything, but I want to understand enough to recognize what's useful and when I might need it.
This Goes Beyond Technology
Ultimately, this conversation is about how we approach learning throughout our lives.
You can apply the same mindset to your career, finances, health, and personal development. You don't have to follow every trend or become an expert in everything. But you should be willing to explore something before deciding it's beyond your abilities.
It's easy to spend hours following celebrities, debating politics, or keeping up with sports. There's nothing wrong with those interests. But imagine using some of that time to learn a skill you've been putting off.
What could you accomplish? What frustration could you avoid? What opportunities might you discover?
Technology will continue to change whether we're ready for it or not. Some tools will be useful, others won't. Some will create new challenges, and others will save us time, money, and headaches.
Being cautious is sensible. Refusing to learn about something simply because it's unfamiliar is different.
The Bottom Line
Please stop telling yourself that you're too old to learn, that technology is just for young people, or that you must stick with the way you've always done things.
You don't have to put your entire life online, use every new app, or become a technology expert. You can protect your privacy, keep things simple, and decide what works for you.
But give yourself the opportunity to learn before ruling something out.
My father understood the value of continuing to learn, and his example reminds me that age and familiarity shouldn't determine what we're willing to explore.
You don't have to know everything. You just have to be willing to learn something.
You might be uncomfortable at first. You might make mistakes or need someone to explain it more than once. Keep going.
You may eventually find yourself saying, “I wish I had learned this years ago.”
And there's no better reason to start than that.
Have you ever avoided learning something because it seemed too complicated or unfamiliar? What changed your mind? I'd love to hear your perspective.
Listen to the episode: Phone Support for Seniors with Rose Kenney — The Tech Jawn
Watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/-7bWnEIVtGE?si=VHdZMlXHznqWwV84
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