For years, the tech world has underestimated seniors online. But according to Cox Mobile’s new report, Connecting the Digital Dots: Online Habits and Safety Concerns Across Three Generations, older adults are proving they’re not just logging on—they’re leveling up.

A surprising 62% of adults aged 65 and older say they feel confident in identifying and avoiding online scams and digital threats. That’s a number that rivals, and in some cases surpasses, younger generations’ self-reported confidence. It’s a striking reminder that digital literacy isn’t just a young person’s game anymore—it’s a shared language spanning generations.

Cox Mobile’s survey, which polled seniors alongside teens and midlife parents, paints a clear picture: the internet has become a lifeline for connection, entertainment, and financial management among older adults. And far from being passive participants, seniors are actively securing their digital spaces.

A Connected Generation, Not a Cautious One

Nearly all seniors surveyed consider themselves “digitally literate.” They’re shopping online, managing money, streaming their favorite shows, scrolling through social media, and even gaming. And they’re spending a lot of time doing it—41% report being online at least five hours a day.

That’s right: Grandma might be on YouTube longer than your teenage cousin.

This increase in screen time comes with exposure to the darker corners of the web—phishing scams, malware, and data breaches among them. Yet, the data suggests resilience: of those who encountered threats last year, 61% managed to mitigate the risk on their own. That self-sufficiency hints at a shift—seniors aren’t just users; they’re becoming problem-solvers in the digital ecosystem.

Building Their Own Firewalls

Confidence alone isn’t what’s protecting this generation—it’s preparation. The survey found that most seniors are proactively taking steps to secure their online lives:

• 70% create strong, unique passwords
• 63% install security software
• 60% enable multi-factor authentication
• 51% remove unsafe apps or channels
• 43% use built-in safety features on their devices

Even more encouraging? More than half of respondents said they’d attend a digital safety workshop to keep learning. That openness to education contrasts with stereotypes about seniors resisting change.

It also sends a message to tech companies: the demand for simple, transparent, and respectful user education isn’t just for kids—it’s for everyone.

The Sandwich Generation’s Silent Relief

There’s another layer here that Cox Mobile cleverly addresses. The “sandwich generation”—adults in their late 30s to 50s juggling teenage kids and aging parents—often find themselves playing tech support for both sides.

The survey shows that while 55% of these adults are confident in their parents’ ability to avoid scams, about one-third still talk to them about online safety several times a week—or even daily.

That constant vigilance can be exhausting. Seniors’ growing digital autonomy could ease that burden, freeing up time and reducing digital anxiety for everyone involved.

As broadband adoption and online banking become non-negotiable parts of daily life, family trust in older relatives’ tech capabilities isn’t just emotionally comforting—it’s economically and logistically necessary.

Seniors and AI: Curious, But Cautious

Here’s where the enthusiasm tapers off: artificial intelligence.

Despite AI’s mainstream boom, most seniors aren’t buying into the generative AI hype just yet. Forty-two percent say they’re concerned about safety, while 21% feel uneasy about AI’s lack of transparency. And nearly half—49%—simply admit they don’t know how to use it, nor do they care to learn.

Those who do use AI (about 28%) are keeping it practical: searching for recipes, learning new skills, or finding inspiration for daily tasks.

This cautious optimism is telling. Seniors are interested, but they’re not rushing in blindly. That measured skepticism might just make them better equipped than many younger users to navigate an emerging tech landscape still wrestling with privacy, bias, and data security issues.

Digital Literacy Has No Age Limit

“Today’s seniors are rewriting the digital playbook,” says Colleen Langner, Chief Residential Officer of Cox Communications. “They’re not just logging on—they’re leaning in.”

It’s a fitting quote for a demographic that’s often overlooked in conversations about innovation. Seniors are proving that engagement doesn’t have to mean exposure. They’re embracing technology on their own terms—streaming, banking, and communicating while maintaining a clear-eyed view of digital risks.

This maturity could serve as a model for younger generations, who may be faster adopters but not always smarter users.

Comparing Industry Trends: How Seniors Stack Up

Cox Mobile isn’t the only one noticing the shift.
AARP’s 2024 Tech Trends Report found that 86% of adults over 50 own a smartphone, and more than 70% use it for financial transactions or shopping—up sharply from just five years ago. Similarly, Pew Research data shows that internet adoption among those 65+ has climbed from 14% in 2000 to nearly 80% in 2024.

The big takeaway? The “digital divide” is closing, but not because seniors are suddenly becoming tech-obsessed. They’re becoming tech-selective—adopting tools that serve them, not the other way around.

Compared to other players promoting digital literacy, such as AT&T’s Digital You initiative or Google’s Be Internet Awesome program, Cox’s collaboration with Common Sense Media focuses more on intergenerational safety education. That’s an important distinction. The digital world doesn’t just need more access—it needs smarter access, and that’s what Cox Mobile’s approach seems to prioritize.

A Smarter, Safer Future

So what’s the real story behind these numbers? It’s not just that seniors are more confident online—it’s that confidence is becoming a new form of digital capital.

When older adults actively engage in securing their online identities, they strengthen the overall resilience of the digital ecosystem. They model best practices for younger users, reduce the emotional labor on families, and push tech companies to design more intuitive, transparent tools.

And while AI adoption may lag, the cautious approach seniors take might be exactly what the rest of us need to emulate—a reminder that digital progress doesn’t have to mean digital recklessness.

Final Thoughts

Cox Mobile’s Connecting the Digital Dots survey is more than a snapshot of online behavior—it’s a quiet redefinition of who counts as “digitally native.”

The next time we talk about digital inclusion, it might be time to flip the narrative. Seniors aren’t catching up—they’re catching on. They’re proving that wisdom, not age, is what defines the modern internet user.

As technology continues to evolve, from AI assistants to biometric logins, perhaps the smartest users online won’t be the youngest—but the most thoughtful.

And right now, those might just be the seniors.