2 . Older people traditionally struggle with new tech, but it doesn’t have to be this way. With the right design, even the most unwilling user can obtain the benefits.

A lack of understanding of technology and its benefits, along with difficulty in using hi-tech products, such as a smartphone or computer, leads to the result that many seniors hesitate to migrate from the old to the new. This is a mistake.

Older people themselves must consider whether they want to embrace new technology, or let the benefits pass them by. Technology, often in the form of social media, has enabled seniors to meet new friends, keep in touch with old ones and learn new skills.

The reasons why some older people adopt new technology are likely to be twofold: they’re forced to do so and they want to make their lives easier. These reasons are important for anyone who realizes seniors need to be convinced to engage with technology to consider.

Adopting new technology is often imperative for modern people to do, yet some elderly still insist, “I have managed before without technology. Why do I have to use it now?”

Seniors often become frustrated with technology. “It’s not working, ” is a complaint co-author Lucia heard many times from her late father, especially when it came to his cell phone-and he used technology well, for the most part. Often, the problem was that he was unable to use the small keypad( 键盘) on his phone or read the letter size of the words in text messages he received.

One issue that needs to be addressed is the design of technology. Seniors want web pages to be simple and clear, and navigation easy. One study from 2005 shows that many seniors like a website to be user-friendly with a simple interface (界面).

“A simpler and more uniformly designed internet would help to break down the psychological barriers outlined, ”it states. While that study was carried out years ago, this problem with web design still stands.

5 . While technology addicts teens to their devices, they are not helpless against the draw of it. Here are five ways educators can support their students’ digital well-being.

Explore design tricks companies use. The technology we use daily is designed to catch and hold our attention. Companies know what keeps our eyes on the screen. To help, teachers can unpack design tricks and explain how companies employ features like auto-play to get users to stay on their apps.     1    

Talk about how technology can increase feelings of anxiety. The decline in youth mental health is associated with an increase in social media use.     2     We can help our students by allowing them to consider the benefits of technology and then to think about changing the habits that aren’t serving their well-being.

    3     Social media can bring the feeling: “All my friends have better lives than me.” Plus, design features like “read receipts” can lead to teens knowing their messages have been seen and stressing about why friends haven’t yet replied. These are classic examples of thinking traps. Identifying them can help teens get rid of some negative thoughts.

Uncover the ways that AI can play a role in misinformation. AI is rapidly transforming the world. Recommendation algorithms (算法), which determine what we do and do not see on our feeds and in our search results, can have very real consequences.     4     By understanding how these technologies work, students can start to enjoy more benefits of technology.

Encourage families to have meaningful conversations with their child. Take the time to share with families the topics and resources you’re teaching in class.     5     Knowing we’re all in the same boat is crucial.

6 . In the house where I grew up, we had a room we called the library. It wasn’t a real library, of course, it was just a small room dominated by a television set. But there were bookshelves built into all four walls, and hundreds of book — hardback books of many colors — surrounded us in that room. The books, collected by my parents and grandparents throughout their lifetimes, were a part of my childhood.

But in the 1970s, I’m noticing a worrying trend: a move away from books. American homes might soon lack dedicated spaces for libraries, and hardcover books, once symbols of enduring thought and wisdom, may become endangered.

A friend who owns a bookstore in a college town tells me he struggles to sell hardback books; paperbacks, though easier to sell, still disappoint him. Students, once seen with books, now carry music records. Reading seems to be giving way to listening. Recent observations support this shift: the University of Illinois reported that a significant portion of freshmen have reading skills no better than an average eighth grader, with many of these students having been top performers in high school.

University professors note that even college graduates struggle with reading and writing. The cultural impact of this change is evident. A successful fiction book might sell a mere 3,000 copies, while a music album by a new band, Boston, has sold millions. This reflects our passive consumption era, where listening to music or watching shows requires little active engagement, unlike reading a book, which demands effort and intent.

In the past, reading was a fundamental part of life, but now, in the era of fast information access, books are losing their significant place. Today’s young Americans are more likely to read a disposable paperback than to cherish and reread a hardcover. In a society that values speed and convenience, the book for keeping and rereading is a weighty dinosaur.

10 . Tips to help you overcome people-pleasing

Considering other people’s feelings and treating them with kindness is something we strive to do.    1    

When this happens, people-pleasing has crossed the line from kind and generous to self-abandonment — not being the authentic self because we’re afraid others will disapprove, criticize, or reject us. Here are tips for you to overcome such behaviors.

Self-care is a necessity, not a luxury. It’s not something you do if you have time or if you deserve it. Taking care of your emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical needs keeps you healthy. Without it, you’ll get sick, stressed, and irritable. Try putting self-care activities (exercise, socializing, hobbies, etc.) on your calendar to ensure that self-care is a priority.

One big mistake people-pleasers make is acting as if everyone’s opinion matters equally. You don’t differentiate whose opinion matters more. Generally, the closer the relationship, the more you’ll value their opinion and want to please them. Thus, it’s natural to want to do things to make your loved ones happy.     3    

Most people worry that painful conflicts will destroy relationships.     4     But it’s not helpful or possible. When you avoid conflict, you suppress your feelings and needs. And this causes you to disconnect from yourself and from others. But healthy conflict is the one in which both parties can respectfully express themselves.     5     This is quite different from the unhealthy conflicts.