SOME PEOPLE get all starry-eyed over the latest high-tech gadget or service, daydreaming about the moment they can show it off to their envious friends. We are not those people. We want tech because it makes life easier in some way.
So in this edition of AARP THE MAGAZINE’S annual Tech Guide, we sought out products, services and tips that are useful. What a concept! On the following pages, you’ll find guidance about personal tech that can help you connect with your family, find relevant news and information, get around more easily, and manage your money and health. In the end, you’ll have something really valuable to show off: knowledge.
THE EDITORS
BROUGHT TO YOU BY CONSUMER CELLULAR
Stories by Chris Morris and Lexi Pandell
Cover and photographs by Zachary Scott
Illustrations by James Clapham
You want to see what your kids or grandkids are doing in their lives. So which social media site is the best to use?
Social media might seem like the best way to check in with your young adult or teen kid or grandchild (since they are so often buried in their phones, regularly posting photos and videos, and checking in on their friends). But be careful: There are rules and guardrails. “In the social media age, the worst thing is when your parents and grandparents show up,” says Karen North, clinical professor of communication at the University of Southern California. “You don’t want to be part of a kid’s core group of friends on social. That’s where they do their silly, embarrassing stuff.”
What about younger kids?
Got young grandkids who live far away? A private channel on YouTube or Vimeo is a great way to stay in touch. Check the settings so that the videos go to only those you share the link with. Record videos of yourself reading bedtime stories or telling tales of interesting things in your life. The kids can watch (and rewatch) as often as they want.
Make better video calls
Video calls no longer require you to sit staring at a camera. Several services will work on small tabletop devices, such as Google’s Nest Hub Max or Amazon’s Echo Show. With these screens, you can chat with friends as you move around the kitchen.
Messaging, without texts
If your cellular carrier still charges you to send or receive texts, or if you have friends or family overseas, where extra charges may apply, you should consider other mobile messaging options.
WhatsApp is popular, says Andrew Selepak, a professor at the University of Florida’s College of Journalism and Communications. It lets you send a message, photo, video or even a voice note for free to anyone else with the app, regardless of where they live. Others include Facebook Messenger and Signal.
DO’S AND DON’TS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
✗ Don’t Use platforms like Snapchat and TikTok, where the silly friend stuff thrives.
✓ Do Use tools that allow a quick hello, such as BeReal or Locket. At regular intervals, you send a picture or short video to one another. “You want to make it fun to have a relationship with other generations,” North says.
✓ Do Use Instagram, North says. Kids can filter which posts you see.
SECURITY TIP
Don’t share
• Your address
• Your grandchild’s school’s name
• Anything in the background that might be personal or private