You’ve probably been using the Internet since you were old enough to reach the keyboard. You know how to log in, browse your favorite sites, check your email, and download information you were searching for. But for older people, it may be a very different story. Here are 6 myths your parents (or grandparents) still believe about the Internet.
6. It Costs Long Distance to Use the Internet
Back in the days of dial-up and BBS, it used to cost a ton of cash to surf the Web. As a result, your silver-surfing parents (or grandparents) probably still think they have to pay long-distance, per-minute rates to use this technology. This makes them assume that the Internet still must cost a lot of money. They don’t realize that the Web has evolved, and it all costs one flat rate now.
5. Paid Subscriptions are the Norm For Email Accounts
Once upon a time, you had to pay AOL and Microsoft a monthly fee to use their mail services. But as you know, you no longer have to pay for your email service. Your parents, on the other hand, are probably still under the impression that they have to pay to subscribe to an email service.
4. Email Services Charge a Per-Email Fee
You know you have to pay the cost of postage to send items via snail mail, but did you know that your parents think you also have to pay a fee for each email you send? Some even believe that there’s a fee per word in each email they send.
3. “Reply-all” is a Must When Sending an Email
When your parents receive an email that was sent to a group of people, many think that in order to respond properly, they have to hit the “reply-all” button and send their response to everyone. Of course, the next thing you know, everyone who received the original email receives the response your parents sent that may not relate to all of them. While this is sometimes hilarious, it can also be potentially embarrassing.
2. Instant Messages Are Like Letters or Emails
You know that when you’re chatting with someone online, you type short sentences, just like when you’re talking. But your parents are used to writing long paragraphs when typing to someone in a letter or email. This causes them to write long sentences and even full paragraphs in their IMs too.
1. A Blog is Something Only Celebrities Use
You know that anyone who wants to set up a blog for any purpose can create one. Your parents on the other hand (assuming they’ve even heard of a blog), likely think it’s just something celebrities use to keep their fans up to date. They have no idea of the innumerable blogs out there that are created by everyday people about everyday subjects.
Now that you see what myths your parents have about the Internet, you can help clear their confusion. It might be time to sit down with them and help them learn how to use their email and other web-based services. After all, couldn’t their lives be enriched by the Web too?