It seems that my father is not an isolated case. Statistics from a recent social project show that the number of elderly people watching YouTube is increasing. In modern life, smartphones and digital platforms have become a "connecting bridge" to help the elderly access information, entertainment and connect with their children and grandchildren. However, in parallel with joy, YouTube - the most popular online video platform today - is also leaving many negative consequences when the elderly spend too much time staring at the screen.
It is not difficult to see the image of old men and women sitting in front of their phone screens, tirelessly following bolero music videos, Cai Luong, cooking lessons, and even social commentary channels. With simple operations, a rich content resource and continuous updates, YouTube brings the elderly convenience and the feeling of not being left behind in the flow of technology.
In a certain way, this platform helps seniors feel connected, find spiritual joy and reduce loneliness. However, when that joy becomes a repeat habit for hours every day, unpredictable consequences begin to appear.
First of all, sitting for a long time watching YouTube puts the elderly at risk of many diseases of the bones, joints and cardiovascular system. Many elderly people who are less active now have their eyes on the screen for hours, leading to joint degeneration, back pain, obesity or blood circulation disorder.
In particular, eyes that have weakened with age are more vulnerable to constant exposure to blue light from the phone screen. Dry eyes, eye strain, and rapid vision loss occur, leading to the risk of dry, water clogged eyes in the elderly. Many cases even suffer from sleep disturbances and persistent insomnia because the "bright shadow" of blue light haunting the nervous system.
Another consequence is psychological dependence. When used to spending a lot of time on YouTube, the elderly can easily develop a feeling of restlessness and emptiness if they do not "go online to watch the clip" a day. This dependence gradually forms a state of "addiction", causing them to move away from community activities, reducing direct interaction with children, grandchildren and neighbors.
More seriously, receiving too much information from unverified YouTube channels can easily cause the elderly to have cognitive "disorder". There are many cases of believing in fake news, thrilling clips, plot theories, leading to confusion, anxiety or forming distorted views about social life.
When I told my father these things, it seemed like he had changed, walked more, and participated in the arts of the elderly more.
YouTube is a technology gift that brings many benefits to the elderly. However, when they spend too much time on this platform, they will have to face a series of consequences: Declining health, vulnerable spirit, the risk of lurking scams and the gradual narrowing of community life. Therefore, being alert and moderate in using YouTube is the key for the elderly to enjoy digital joy while maintaining health and cohesion in real life.
October 1 will mark the 35th anniversary of the United Nations' selection as the World Elderly Day to honor the contributions of the elderly to family and society, while raising awareness of health issues, rights and care for the elderly globally. It is time to have deeper studies on the effects of social networks on the elderly to make appropriate adjustments, creating a safe and healthy living environment for the elderly.
