Why Online Elder Abuse Is No Laughing Matter – and What You Can Do to Stop It

We all laughed – how could we not? – in the summer of 2011, when a video of two married senior citizens attempting to use their webcam for the first time went viral. The Huffmans fumble with the computer and flirt with one another, totally unaware that the camera is on. The result is a hilarious, totally candid portrait of the clash between old age and new technology.

But while this clash is comical in the Huffmans’ case, it can be absolutely devastating in others. Just a few months after the video went viral, the U.N. General Assembly declared June 15 World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. And although abuse of the elderly occurs in a variety of ways, social media platforms like YouTube give criminals easy access to credulous senior citizens and open the door to exploitation.

The Department of Health and Human Services reports that 10% of U.S. adults older than 60 experience either abuse or neglect – a number that, sadly, will likely increase in the coming years. A growing number of seniors are turning to social media to stay in touch with far-flung family and friends; Facebook’s fastest-growing demographic is users aged 55 and older. And even though they may be using Facebook, they have concerns; in recent research we conducted, 92% of seniors recognized the risk they face. Even those senior citizens who aren’t online are vulnerable to abuse, like the elderly Iowa man whose nurse photographed him covered in fecal matter and shared the photo via Snapchat.

Such stories are a sobering reminder of our duty as caretakers and citizens to protect the elderly. For every funny story like the Huffmans’, there’s another of dignity lost, trust broken and systems failed. Here are some things you can do to ensure that the senior citizens in your life can enjoy the benefits of social media without experiencing abuse through it:

Have a conversation

It sounds obvious, but this step cannot be overstated: Talk with the elderly. Make sure they understand the basics of how theft and deception occur on social media. Walk them through how easy it is to make a fake profile and send fake requests for money or sensitive information. Keep them updated on the latest phishing schemes or online scams. Analogies between snail mail and digital communications can be helpful, as most senior citizens know how to identify untrustworthy information in a physical format. Simple awareness can make a huge difference and empower senior citizens to use the web with freedom and confidence.

Do your research

In the aftermath of the incident with the Iowa man, nursing homes across the country tightened up restrictions on the use of cell phones and implemented trainings for staff on identifying and intervening in abuse. Some have even hired third-party companies to scan social media for abusive content.

Before you select a nursing home or retirement community for your elderly parent, relative or friend, ask about its social media policies. Does it allow staff to have phones? Does it monitor their social media presence? Does it have a program that can help residents navigate technology and technological challenges? Asking these questions will give you a better sense of how highly a facility prioritizes the digital safety of its residents and how secure your loved one will be.

Invest in a social media privacy software

While you might be able to monitor what an elderly loved one is posting publicly, there’s no way to see who is messaging them privately or posting content about them online. A good social media monitoring product can do all of these things, harnessing cutting-edge technology like facial recognition and artificial intelligence to scan for illicit or unusual content featuring the senior citizen in question. It not only helps protect them from criminals, it also helps you have peace of mind about their online presence.

Contact your representative

Now is an excellent time to push for federal action: the current administration has prioritized combating elder abuse through its elder fraud sweeps; Congress has passed several laws in the past few years designed to fight elder abuse; and rising frustration with social media privacy violations means legislators are eager to hear their constituents’ concerns. If someone you love has fallen victim to elder abuse via social media, don’t hesitate to let your state and federal representatives know. Your story could help shape the laws that protect other senior citizens from exploitation.

There’s something peculiarly painful about elder abuse – not only does it harm those who are unable to help themselves, but it displays a contempt for all that older generations have done and suffered so we have the convenience and freedom we do today. But the good news is that such abuse need not be the last word. Through constant vigilance and clear communication, we can ensure that the elderly experience these conveniences free from fear and abuse.

Thomas F. Kelly is president and CEO of IDX, a Portland, Oregon-based provider of data breach and identity protection services. He is a Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur and an expert in cyber security technologies.