A Guide to Texting for Seniors
Learn the benefits of texting, interesting statistics, tips for seniors who are novices about texting and more.
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Contrary to ageist stereotypes, older adults are comfortable with technology and eager to learn how to text if they don’t already do so on a daily basis. During Covid, older adults started using technology more and more to communicate with their kids and grandkids — and they haven’t stopped.
Since then, they’ve embraced technology, leveraging it for telehealth appointments, medical alert systems, mobility devices, tech devices and digital streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.
They’ve gravitated to the internet and never left. According to the Pew Research Center, about 96 percent of adults ages 50 to 64 use the internet and 75 percent of those 65 or older report being internet users.1 Texting is now part of many seniors’ daily lives. In this guide, we’ll discuss the benefits of texting, tips for texting newbies, interesting statistics and more.
One of our senior testers texting on a smartphone from Consumer Cellular
Table of Contents
Benefits of Texting for Seniors
Let’s say you’ve lived near your children and grandchildren for years and you see them often. Maybe you have a smartphone, but you haven’t needed to learn how to text. Do you really have to learn now?
Texting can improve your life in a number of ways. Below are some benefits you’ll gain by learning how to text.
- Improve communication with loved ones. Texting allows older adults to stay connected with family and friends, especially those who live far away. You can send quick updates and easily share photos and videos of grandkids.
- Increase your sense of independence. Texting can help you schedule appointments and order groceries or food delivery services.
- Enhance your safety. Texting enables you to get help during emergencies such as falls or medical issues. You can also share your location if you have an accident.
- Expand your social engagement. Texting affords you an easy way to combat feelings of isolation. You can participate in group chats, coordinate social events and stay engaged within your social circles.
- Improve cognitive stimulation. Learning and using new technologies improves cognitive function, such as memory, problem-solving and multitasking, in older adults. One study found an association between increased frequency of digital device use, including texting and video calls, and better cognitive functioning in seniors.2
- Stay on top of your medical appointments. In the health-care setting, physicians and medical practitioners use text messaging frequently to remind their older patients about appointments and medication management. That means you can stay current on your medications and medical care.
FYI: If you’re worried that your arthritis will make typing and texting challenging, remember that the voice-to-text function on smartphones converts spoken words into written messages.
Stats About Senior Phone Ownership and Texting
Older adults aren’t usually early adopters of technology. About 67 percent tend to take what an AARP survey called a “wait and see” approach.3 That doesn’t mean, however, that they are dinosaurs. Older adults have come to use and rely on their cell phones — and get addicted to them! — like just about everyone else.
The proof of senior cell phone use lies in the numbers. Almost 90 percent of older adults in the U.S. own a smartphone, and they are shopping for more tech gadgets all the time. In 2023, 69 percent of adults over age 50 bought at least one tech product.4
Once they have their cell phones, older adults enjoy using them to communicate. Research shows that 92 percent of online users in the U.S. are texting, messaging and using SMS as frequently as using email. Thus, texting is one of the leading forms of communication today.5
Did You Know? According to AARP, the breakdown of how older adults stay in touch with others shows that texting is even more popular than email. They found that 94 percent text, 88 percent email, 74 percent use social media (the most popular platforms for people 50 or older are Facebook and YouTube) and 67 percent video chat.6
Tips for Seniors Who Are New to Texting
Because so much of daily life now takes place online, texting is almost a requirement — and digital literacy is vital. You can ask your neighbor, an aide, your grandchild or whomever else to teach you how to text. If you have a tablet, you may access online tutorials about texting on platforms such as YouTube.
You could also take a class to learn the skill at a local library, community center or senior organization. Be patient, because it may take a while to learn and get used to it.
When seniors are just beginning to text, here are some tips:
- Learn concepts gradually.
- Remember to avoid typing in all caps (it’s considered yelling).
- Slowly learn about abbreviations and emojis, but don’t feel rushed to use them.
- Be cautious about sharing personal information and only text and respond to known numbers.
- Adjust phone settings for ease of use by enlarging the text size to facilitate better reading and exploring voice-activated features (such as using Siri with an iPhone) to minimize typing.
- Start with basics, such as how to locate and access the messaging app, how to select a contact from your phonebook, and how to type a simple message.
- Practice regularly to build confidence and proficiency.
Pro Tip: In researching the best websites for seniors, award-winning Senior Planet was a standout. It’s a flagship program run by Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), a charitable affiliate of AARP. Senior Planet offers online courses geared toward older adults taught by experienced teachers. A big plus? All programs are free. Older adults participated in Senior Planet classes over 600,000 times, so you’ll be in good company.
Additional Cell Phone Resources
For more information on cell phones, including which types are best for seniors and which cell phone plans came out on top for older adults based on our hands-on testing, check out the following articles.
- A Guide to Cell Phones for Seniors
- Best Cell Phones for Seniors
- Best Senior Cell Phone Plans
- Best Free Phones for Seniors
- Best Flip Phones for Seniors
- Easiest Phones for Seniors to Use
- Best Cell Phones for Seniors With Vision Loss
- Best Phones for Seniors With Hearing Loss
- Best Cell Phones for Seniors With Dementia
- Best Android Phones for Seniors
- Best iPhones for Seniors
- Best Big-Button Cell Phones for Seniors
- Best Cheap Cell Phones for Seniors
- Best 5G Phones for Seniors
- Best Samsung Phones for Seniors
- Best Voice-Activated Cell Phones for Seniors
- Best Unlocked Phones for Seniors
- Best Unlimited Phone Plans
- Best VoIP Phones for Seniors
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do 70-year-olds text?
Well, 62 percent of people ages 70 or older use smartphones,7 so many do text.
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Is there danger in texting?
It’s convenient, but texting does not afford you the ability to hear the pitch, tone and volume of a person’s voice. Therefore, messages can be misconstrued.
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How do you teach seniors to text?
Start with the basics, be encouraging and practice.
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What should you not include in texts?
Avoid discussing breakups, deaths, politics, gossip and personal or sensitive information in texts. Your text can end up misunderstood, shared or in the hands of criminals, and it can cause damage to you personally, professionally and financially.
Pew Research Center. (2022). Share of those 65 and older who are tech users has grown in the past decade.
Benge, J. F., Kiselica, A. M., Aguirre, A. (2023). Technology use and subjective cognitive concerns in older adults.
AARP. (2024). 2024 Tech Trends: Older Adults Embrace Tech, but Are Skeptical of AI.
AARP. (2024). 2024 Tech Trends: Older Adults Embrace Tech, but Are Skeptical of AI.
Statista. (2022). Top communication methods in the U.S. 2022.
AARP. (2023). 2023 Tech Trends: No End in Sight for Age 50+ Market Growth.
AARP. (2020). 2020 Tech Trends of the 50+.
