In 2019, Magyar Telekom launched a new program – digital education customized for retirees – delivered by students. Our goal is to enable everyone regardless of their age to access the benefits offered by digitalization, by providing access and by developing seniors’ digital competence.
A representative survey conducted by Magyar Telekom highlights the specific needs of retirees open to innovation. Many of them already have some digital skills. 53 percent of people above the age of 65 surf the Internet regularly, and 35 percent do so on a daily basis. Senior citizens mainly read the news (74 percent), correspond by email (67 percent), and 26 percent visit media sites, while 14 percent also make online purchases.
Respondents all believe that life is harder if you have no Internet skills. 55 percent of respondents agree entirely with that statement, 28 percent partially agree with it. However, only six percent of respondents have adequate knowledge about the Internet. Those who do not use the Internet would like to learn about it, but they admit that they need help with the learning process. What’s more, they would be happy to get such help from young people. So much so that as many as 38 percent of seniors not using the Internet would be willing to accept help from teenagers. Even among people above the age of 80, 40 percent would be open to the help available under the initiative.
In 2022, we continued the program in a hybrid approach. We gradually restored face-to-face sessions, while retaining the option of creating online learning materials. 220 short videos and illustrated guides on eight topics were published on the program’s own website The “Become a Gen NOW Grannie!” Program was rolled out nationwide from6 November 2019 and it now covers several schools and retiree communities in 16 towns. This transformation and the opportunity provided by online training allows anyone to join the initiative from any location. The program has reached more than 750 000 people, and 53 000 seniors and students were participating in the program through face-to-face sessions and online platforms.
In 2019, Magyar Telekom launched a new program – digital education customized for retirees – delivered by students. Our goal is to enable everyone regardless of their age to access the benefits offered by digitalization, by providing access and by developing seniors’ digital competence.
A representative survey conducted by Magyar Telekom highlights the specific needs of retirees open to innovation. Many of them already have some digital skills. 53 percent of people above the age of 65 surf the Internet regularly, and 35 percent do so on a daily basis. Senior citizens mainly read the news (74 percent), correspond by email (67 percent), and 26 percent visit media sites, while 14 percent also make online purchases.
Respondents all believe that life is harder if you have no Internet skills. 55 percent of respondents agree entirely with that statement, 28 percent partially agree with it. However, only six percent of respondents have adequate knowledge about the Internet. Those who do not use the Internet would like to learn about it, but they admit that they need help with the learning process. What’s more, they would be happy to get such help from young people. So much so that as many as 38 percent of seniors not using the Internet would be willing to accept help from teenagers. Even among people above the age of 80, 40 percent would be open to the help available under the initiative.
In 2022, we continued the program in a hybrid approach. We gradually restored face-to-face sessions, while retaining the option of creating online learning materials. 220 short videos and illustrated guides on eight topics were published on the program’s own website The “Become a Gen NOW Grannie!” Program was rolled out nationwide from 6 November 2019 and it now covers several schools and retiree communities in 16 towns. This transformation and the opportunity provided by online training allows anyone to join the initiative from any location. The program has reached more than 750 000 people, and 53 000 seniors and students were participating in the program through face-to-face sessions and online platforms.