Diary #08
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AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR SAVING MONEY
AN EFFECTIVE METHOD FOR SAVING MONEY
OLDER ADULTS
A link received from an acquaintance, an enticing headline and the choice not to share it.
THE STORY
THE STORY
A participant receives a link on Facebook sent by an acquaintance. The headline, which presents a method for saving money, seems designed to attract attention.
She had not searched for that information. She does not know who originally produced it and interprets its purpose as a possible attempt to convince, arouse curiosity or deceive. She feels concerned and gives the message a credibility score of zero out of five.
Then she makes a decision: not to share it.
We do not know the exact content of the link and we do not know whether it was actually a scam. An eye-catching headline alone does not prove that a message is false. The testimony documents, instead, a cautious choice.
The participant describes her habits as follows:
"I check who it comes from, I read it carefully. Generally, I never share news unless I am really sure it is true."
Her relationship with digital technology is multifaceted. She uses television, the Internet, social media, news apps and artificial intelligence tools. She recalls that years ago she obtained information mainly through radio, newspapers and television, whereas today news can arrive on her phone or through WhatsApp in just a few moments.
She also recounts searching on YouTube for instructions on changing her washing machine filter: after the tutorial, she received suggestions for relevant videos and other, different ones that aroused her curiosity. She thus recognises both the possibilities these tools offer and their ability to direct attention.
The participant appreciates the ease of searching for information, reconnecting with old friends and exchanging opinions in real time. However, she is concerned about false news, scams and some of the effects of social media on younger people.
Looking back on her youth, she values the time spent with friends in person, through sports, conversations and gatherings "on the low wall". When asked what she would like to learn from younger people, she answers: "I would say nothing. Perhaps it is young people who have a lot to learn from our generations." This is her position, which intergenerational dialogue can accommodate without necessarily judging.
The advice she leaves for the Archive summarises her point of view: "Use social media without letting it use you."
BEYOND THE STORY
— Choosing not to share is also a choice
BEYOND THE STORY
— Choosing not to share is also a choice
When faced with a piece of news, we can read it, investigate it further, ignore it or forward it. Each of these actions contributes differently to its circulation.
A message sent by someone we know may seem more reliable: trust in the relationship, however, is not equivalent to verification of the content. In this case, the participant does not document a fact-check of the specific link; instead, she describes a cautious decision consistent with her general habit of not forwarding news she has doubts about.
The story shows that digital citizenship also includes the choice not to amplify uncertain information. And it reminds us that technological competence and critical awareness are not alternatives: they can coexist in people of different ages, with different perspectives and expectations.
A QUESTION FOR YOU
A QUESTION FOR YOU
"How do you use social media?"
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