Spending time teaching parents how to use mobile phones is the greatest filial piety today. Do you agree?

Young people are often called on in the news to "put down their mobile phones and spend more time with their parents", but in my family it should really be changed to "put down their mobile phones and spend more time with their children" - ever since parents started using smartphones, they have both become "Internet addicted old age". When returning home from a trip, the most common sight is two old people sitting on the sofa, ignoring each other, both holding mobile phones and having fun.

The "Internet" trend is booming, but it has only been in the past two years that the elderly have been included. On the one hand, it stems from the elderly’s own life needs. For example, I used WeChat to form a group of relatives and dance groups so that I could keep in touch with my "old friends." What surprised me was that my 60-year-old mother used emoticons such as covering her face, crying with laughter, etc. even better than me. In addition, she often uses Didi Taxi, Baidu Maps, etc. With these apps, she doesn’t have to worry about finding her way out. On the other hand, mobile Internet also adds entertainment options to elderly life. In my mother's smartphone, which does not have ample storage space, a considerable part of the capacity is reserved for "Korean Songs". Not only does it cost nothing to sing karaoke, you can also send it to your friends. Since being added to the Internet, I feel that my parents’ old life has become a lot more joyful. I feel relieved that they can find their own fun online.

However, current Internet tools still have a certain learning threshold for the elderly. In order for the elderly to master more Internet knowledge, the elderly are willing to learn and the young are willing to teach. Both are indispensable. Although many young people say they want their parents to keep up with the times, it is difficult for them to teach their parents patiently and carefully. It is unacceptable to think that it is easier to do it yourself, or that the elderly will be annoyed if they cannot understand a few sentences.

Use words that the elderly can understand and teach them step by step how to use it. From my personal experience, the elderly's ability to get started is not as bad as imagined. They may stumble at the beginning, but once they build up their confidence, they will learn more and more smoothly on their own. During the Spring Festival holiday, I taught my mother to use the Internet to buy and collect movie tickets, and to use the facial recognition function of the social security APP for remote social security authentication. The former allowed her parents to enter the cinema again after more than ten years; the latter made her no longer have to go back to her hometown every six months to complete the procedures. They have peace of mind, and I, the “teacher,” feel a sense of accomplishment. In fact, the more important thing is to regain their inner confidence and feel that they are not lagging behind the times. Today, as material conditions are getting better and better, perhaps what the elderly need more is this psychological need for self-identification.

I believe there are many older people like my parents. Their lives have been changed by the Internet, and they hope to integrate more deeply into this ever-changing era. "Internet Elderly" has just begun. However, no matter how good the external conditions are, it is still a critical step for children to really take the time to be the "initial teachers" for their parents to use the Internet.

Young people, don’t just play with your mobile phones, bring your parents in and play together! In the digital age, this may be a new expression of "filial piety"