3 Ways To Try To Get Your Elderly Parents To Switch To Broadband Internet

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3 Ways To Try To Get Your Elderly Parents To Switch To Broadband Internet

2 February 2017
 Categories: Technology, Blog


The Internet plays a large role in American life today, and for most people, broadband Internet service is an expectation, not a luxury. But while broadband Internet service has become more and more common over the years for people of many ages, it's possible you might have a couple of holdouts within your own family: Mom and Dad. If your parents are well into their golden years, there's a chance that they just might not see the point of switching to broadband Internet service. After all, they've made it this far with either dial up service or maybe no Internet at all. But today, there are multiple cool applications and services that require broadband to function properly. If you're hoping to drag your parents into the 21st century, here are a few things you can tell them about that might convince them to finally call a broadband Internet service provider.

Video Conference Calls

Did you recently have kids or are you planning to do so in the future? If so, your parents are likely looking forward to becoming grandparents to your children. But if you don't live nearby, it might be difficult for Grandpa and Grandma to be able to see the kids every day. But thanks to the power of video conferencing, this doesn't have to be the reality. When you get the opportunity, download a popular video messaging app and show it off to your parents. If they don't have their own smartphone, you may be able to buy them a cheap laptop with a webcam that can serve the same purpose. Explain that video conferencing only works if you have a fast Internet connection and go from there.

Online Streaming Services

Do your parents frequently watch a lot of television on their old set? If so, they might enjoy getting introduced to some of the various online streaming services that show a wide selection of television and movies. Find a program or two that you think your parents would like and show them a trailer or a short clip. You might have to help them set up their account and teach them how to navigate the menus the first time, but you'll be giving them potentially hundreds of hours of entertainment for a relatively low cost. Again, point out that the wonderful world of streaming is only available to those who don't still have an Internet connection from 1995.

Get Them A Bundle

Your parents likely have landline phone service and maybe television service from the same company. Take a look around in your area and see if any companies offer phone, television, and Internet or at least some combination that will get your parents broadband. Many Internet companies today are bundling in other services that make the Internet quite inexpensive when you break it all down. If your parents are too stubborn to make the switch themselves, spring the bundle on them as a birthday or Christmas present and tell them you are paying for it for the first year.

If you want to pull your parents into the 21st century, show them the wonders of video conference calls or online streaming to try to get them to switch to broadband Internet. If they are still not sure, take the plunge for them by getting them a bundle with a local Internet provider, such as Solarus, that also includes TV and/or phone options. For more information, contact a local Internet service provider today.