An Exploratory Study of Social Support Systems to Help Older Adults in Managing Mobile Safety

Older adults face increased safety challenges, such as targeted online fraud and phishing, contributing to the growing technological divide between them and younger adults. Social support from family and friends is often the primary way older adults receive help, but it may also lead to reliance on others. We have conducted an exploratory study to investigate older adults' attitudes and experiences related to mobile social support technologies for mobile safety. We interviewed 18 older adults about their existing support experiences and used the think-aloud method to gather data about a prototype for providing social support during mobile safety challenges. Our findings point to the potential of mobile technology to increase older adults' ability to mitigate mobile safety challenges through active learning from close social connections. We discuss how to support technology can address helpers' intolerance and overcome the challenges of physical distance.