How many of you are ‘tech support’ for your aging parents? I’m very lucky I still have them around but their inability to navigate today’s world can be maddening.

Posted by Shaneblaster@reddit | GenX | View on Reddit | 489 comments

I can’t get my phone to work, it must be broken. How to do I post picture to Facebook? What’s a browser? The remote won’t work. And my favorite- the internet isn’t working. I get about two to three a week and it’s getting worse. I just need to vent.

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natedogjulian@reddit

My 76 yr old dad is way more tech savvy than I ever will be.

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neoyeti2@reddit

Every time I go see my mom I have to “make things work again”. Usually pretty easy but then there is the joy of passwords!!

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Shaneblaster@reddit (OP)

My god don’t get me started on the passwords!

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HarpersGhost@reddit

My mom has a recipe box with a card for each system with the log in and password. The wifi is in the W section. And when I set up her roku yesterday, i filled out a card.

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No_Appointment6273@reddit

Oh my God I do that. (40F) I started with a single sheet with all my passwords, then an address book. I ran out of space because I had to keep crossing things out. My index cards were sitting on the computer desk and I needed to write down a new password, I grabbed an index card and put it in the back of my recipe box and it just worked.

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8drearywinter8@reddit

My parents have the exact same system for logins/passwords! I'm actually glad they did that -- it's helped sooo much. Maybe the recipe box is a generational solution to organizing?

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LAOGANG@reddit

They have password books you can buy from Amazon. It lets you organize them by the company alphabetically with the user name, password, website, etc. They were a life saver! My parents passed away last year and all the info was there to continue paying their bills and handle their estate,

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UnderstandingQuirky8@reddit

I bought those for my parents for Christmas because they both had convoluted homemade disorganized password books.

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cowbutt6@reddit

I gave my dad an address/telephone book with index tabs for his passwords. Better that he has them written down, than reuses them. And it also means that, when the fateful day eventually comes, I'll have some chance of recovering any important data.

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Txidpeony@reddit

My dad used an old school Rolodex for passwords. He had brought it home from some office job at some point.

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yarmsicle@reddit

This is what my mom uses, too. We had to teach her to use more complicated passwords than what she was using though, which was usually just someone’s name.

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Frosty-Librarian_@reddit

We use an address book, I think we’re on the fourth or fifth one … but it is overall a good solution

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QuirkyForever@reddit

My mom just has the same password for everything. She actually got hacked recently where everyone in her email got a message from her that was trying to scam them out of Amazon gift cards. A couple of people fell for it. I had to write a little instruction email to tell people how to identify a scam. I tried to engage with the scammer but they caught on to me.

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Material_Entrance299@reddit

I think I might try this with my mom.

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HarpersGhost@reddit

It works! And with a card for each login, if there's a change, there's room for a new password. She had an address book for a while, but there was no room for notes or new passwords and it just got nutty after awhile.

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tonna33@reddit

I think I might try this for myself! Or my husband. More for the husband. I'm the go to person for "what's the password for ... ???"

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ny-central-line@reddit

This really is an excellent way to do it.

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Educational-Dirt4059@reddit

Or the different number of accounts they make because they get locked out of the original. My long suffering GenX husband deals with this on his mom’s computer weekly.

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MrRemoto@reddit

The password notebook that's in the draw under the computer with meticulous notes like: iTunes=Lost45s!! Verizon=HomeInternet123 GasCo=40EvergreenCircle

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SummerBirdsong@reddit

We keep our passwords in a binder so we can find them when we need them.

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Steffie767@reddit

Mine are in an old fashioned steno notebook, white out is my friend when the website makes me change a password.

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SummerBirdsong@reddit

Loose leaf paper in sheet protector sleeves. Mostly in pencil.

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Great-Wishbone-9923@reddit

I live with my folks. The passwords were randomly written on the back of an old manual they keep for an appliance they don’t have 🤦 When I moved here 4 years ago I just started copying everything into MY password manager under “parents” so I have them. I taught them how to freeze their credit, and saved their passwords because I knew they would lose them. I had to help them unfreeze their credit a few weeks ago because they didn’t know their passwords 🤦‍♂️🤦🤦‍♂️🤦🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♀️🤦 There are otherwise very competent people, but this part drives me up a wall. I’m not even the IT son (that’s my brother)! I’m a former chef and a gardener!

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wishmachine007@reddit

“I can’t get into my damn (insert any website here) account!” I get this call at least three times a week and every time I get it, an angel loses its wings.

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gollo9652@reddit

My Mom asks me “What’s my Apple ID?” At least once a week. The funniest thing she does is turn on the silent mode on her phone and I have to call her three or four times until she remembers how to turn it off.

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neoyeti2@reddit

I think we have the same mom!!!

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sweeteatoatler@reddit

I may be y’all’s Mom. Call me! 😂

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ExquisitePreamble@reddit

My 89 year old mom has the simplest flip phone and, somehow, she puts it airplane mode on the regular. I get calls telling me the phone or TV is “being screwy” all the time Glad we moved her to a place half a mile away

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IDMike2008@reddit

I find writing them down on a post it and sticking it to the device pretty effective.

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LowerCourse2267@reddit

Shit. My 85-year old dad schools me on Apple products.

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baloneysmom@reddit

People are so quick to bash boomers for being tech-resistant. I love that your dad and my grandfather (93) still embrace "what's new"! He called me (on his Samsung zfold) to tell me he synced his porch TV to his hearing aid. I was thrilled for him.

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wild-hectare@reddit

"back in my day on the Lisa II" 😂

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AlienApricot@reddit

Lisa… r/FuckImOld I guess we all are here

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XavierPibb@reddit

The Lisa was pretty cool.

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UnderstandingQuirky8@reddit

It is very challenging to provide tech support at this point for my parents who share a basic flip phone when I’m used to smart phones. The flip phones are so basic that they almost make you feel stupid. I it’s hard to help them find stuff on them. And they rarely use it so they forget how to use it!!! A the printing issues. Always printing problems. What do you really need to print anyway??? But I give them credit. My mom is 89 and somewhat knows how to use Facebook. She uses email but doesn’t always grasp reply all. My dad has to use the VA healthcare online to order medication so I guess he’s been successful at that but it was a rough start getting him signed up for that.

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unloosedcoin@reddit

Mum taught me how to pirate

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Recynd2@reddit

My parents, yes (my mom is surprisingly good at 87), but it’s my husband who’s the real technology-incompetent. His brain just doesn’t work that way.

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Direct_Ad2289@reddit

I am the aging parent and have ways done tech support for 2 out of 3 of my children

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IDMike2008@reddit

I help my mom out fairly frequently as she lives with us. I don’t really understand the anger towards helping one’s parents. She taught me how to be a person. The least I can do is unzoom her Apple Watch and help her with her iPad, switch, and Roku.

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

When they taught us stuff, we caught on and became able to do it on our own. This is different. There is a seeming inability to learn, or worse - a lack of willingness to learn & they just want us to do it for them and/or they are repeatedly doing/causing the same tech issue they want us to fix.

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IDMike2008@reddit

Yeah, it’s almost like our brains were in a totally different stage of life where everything was new and learning was much much easier or something. Good thing they didn’t insist that you were refusing to learn because you were lazy or stupid and they just kept patiently teaching you over and over. Please do some reading about how neural plasticity reduces as we age. And pray the young people in your life are kinder to you than you someday.

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

I have not been unkind to my parents. I’m an only child and all the help they have (aside from grandkids). But I’m entitled to feel the frustration. I’m sure they felt some parenting frustration as well. I’m not a bad kid or doing something wrong just because they frustrate me sometimes, and I vent it here, any more that frustrated parents venting would make them bad parents. You come off condescending.

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IDMike2008@reddit

My apologies for the tone. Text is hard. For instance, you come across as ungrateful and short tempered but I understand that's not what you meant to convey. Yes, you are entitled to feel frustrated. My concern was with your suggestion that they are doing it on purpose. There's a lot of research that shows that it is physically harder to learn as you age. It's hard to see or accept our parent's cognitive decline sometimes. And our brains can deflect to anger or resentment instead. I'm glad you're trying to be patient, just as they were patient with you. I said I don't understand the frustration because my occasional moment of impatience is diffused by the gratitude I have for Mom's time and effort to raise me. You decided to try to explain to me why that was wrong. I was just answering the OP's question. Why did you feel a need to explain to me that I should be irritated by my Mom's requests for help? Because you are?

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

You said you didn’t understand the anger. I offered an explanation of where it comes from. Where in anything I said did I even *suggest* that you should be irritated by your mom’s requests? All I did was explain why some of us are when you said you didn’t understand.

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Emunahd@reddit

I understand the vent. I was tech support for my mom before she passed. Every year I’d have to download her bank statements and print them so she could do her taxes. She was still on AOL (bless her) which didn’t support most of the things she wanted to do. She’d call and say “The next time you come over, let’s look at my smart TV…my iPhone…my watch…my computer.” She was into her 80’s and I was so proud of her for trying! Also…UGH!! I miss her.

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Ok-Bug4328@reddit

My MIL uses AOL. She prints and files her email.

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Emunahd@reddit

Bless them.

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Potato2266@reddit

Yes, all the time. My parents are the worst students, because they don’t take notes. They believe that it’s my responsibility to make them remember. So I end up answering the same questions about 20 or 30 before I start yelling at them. Then they accuse me of being impatient. I did sign them up for classes at the local community college and they did take notes. However they still ask me the same questions instead checking their notes because it’s faster.

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Ok-Bug4328@reddit

My MIL takes copious notes. In microscopic handwriting. Then she never looks at it again. She just calls me. Ok. But please stop asking me to explain everything. I can fix it in 30 seconds.

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Thanks-4allthefish@reddit

Maybe you are impatient. It takes longer to teach things to older folks - and longer for them to think through things (not a case of they can't).

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Otherwise_Gear_5136@reddit

Lol - just had to deal with this the other day. "Our computer harddrive is so full I can't access my emails anymore!" I go take a look and find an iTunes app that is taking up 30% of their harddrive! THE COMPUTER IS PC! I ask "what Apple devices do you have?" Mom has iPhone but does no syncing to the computer with it. Dad, however, has an iPod. He bought $150 of "oldies" mixed cds, used the CD drive in the CPU to download, then uploaded them to the iPod. TEN YEARS AGO. And has never done anything else with them. I got rid of the iTunes app and its rather insanely extensive library and presto! Hard drive space again.

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Backieotamy@reddit

Years ago I installed PCAnywhere on "those relationships". Nowadays its much easier than that: # How to Use It 1. Press **Windows key**, type **Quick Assist**, and open it. 2. Choose **“Give assistance”** or **“Get assistance.”** 3. If giving assistance, sign in with your Microsoft account and share the code with the other person. 4. The other person enters the code and grants permission. Now you can quickly(ish) assist them outside of "Have you turned the computer\\monitor on?".

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ArcticPangolin3@reddit

One good reason to be on Android is that my mom and siblings all use iPhone and I don't have to do tech support for my mom. She still can't figure out how to find a text message if the notification goes away.

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OverMlMs@reddit

My dad doesn't seem to realize that "the internet" on his desktop computer is the same as on his iPad/phone. I've explained it to him about a million times, lol, but he just can't get his head around the concept. Technically he's the very last year of the silent generation, but he has most of the Boomer mentality. I help as much as I can (in fact, my husband and I recently had to go out to fix his computer because he clicked something he shouldn't have and he was getting a million pop-ups saying he needed to run a virus scan - despite having anti-virus protection already on his computer. It turned out all I had to do was right click on Google Chrome and shut it down, run a simple scan and then re-open Chrome. He was good to go

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Aware_Sweet_3908@reddit

I finally had to tell my mom that “stuff has gotten too advanced for me 🤷🏻‍♀️” but my husband knows better and asks me to do tech stuff almost daily

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recruitzpeeps@reddit

Not me, my Dad learned to code in the air force during Vietnam. I don’t remember not having a computer, our family were definitely “early adopters” as a result of my nerdy computer dad. He is still very tech savvy and can fix my shit any day of the week, he’s 75.

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UnderaZiaSun@reddit

Warning, that can change. My father was a scientist with a PhD, built his first computer in the late 70s. He was great most of his life, but as he got into his mid 80’s he couldn’t keep up with new stuff like phone operating systems, cloud stuff, etc.

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bassbeatsbanging@reddit

Meanwhile, my dad worked on mainframes from the 70's until he went into management in the early 00's.... ...and yet he can't figure out how to order food from the touch kiosk in Taco Bell. I. do. not. get. it.

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couchwarmer@reddit

I get it, and I'm comfortable with everything from 8-bit to data engineering in the cloud. Yet, I find most kiosks to have infuriatingly horrible UI/UX. The amount of scrolling and page changes is nothing short of insane. Who tests and rubber stamps this crap? And don't get me started on animated menu boards. If your goal is to get as many people through the order line as possible, a menu that changes every few seconds will not help achieve that.

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MathematicianOdd4240@reddit

Same. My parents worked for IBM their whole careers. Mom never could figure out remote controls however. That was most frustrating when she would visit.

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recruitzpeeps@reddit

Remote controls and VCR programming is a GenX skill though, so that makes sense. All humans came with that skill uploaded from years 1970-1980. No one born outside that time frame can program either device. 😁

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SubtextuallySpeaking@reddit

I envied those who had later VCRs with onscreen programming. My grandparents had a Fisher brand that had dip switches. It was a true bitch to figure out how to program M-F 3:30pm to get my daily Robotech fix. Our home VCR had a 25ft corded remote. 😆

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Big_Cryptographer_16@reddit

lol our first was a Sears Beta with dip switches and a "remote" which was a pause button on a wire.

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KnitYourOwnSpaceship@reddit

12:00 ... 00:00 ... 12:00 ... 00:00 ... 12:01 ...

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Big_Cryptographer_16@reddit

How do you even know since there was electrical tape over the blinking clock?

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recruitzpeeps@reddit

Hahhahaha!! Yes!!

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Glittering_Sky8421@reddit

I can.

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recruitzpeeps@reddit

I mean obviously. It was a light hearted joke about what a pain in the ass it was to program those things. Did you see the smilie face? No offense intended.

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MathematicianOdd4240@reddit

True!

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SpiritualMuffin2623@reddit

Can I send my dad to your dad's house?

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recruitzpeeps@reddit

Yes, he’s bored. Ask me how I know. 😁

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Melted-lithium@reddit

You are a rare exception. My mom doesn’t know what a text is.

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Ice_princess50@reddit

My mom is also my go to for a lot of computer stuff, but I also have the same background so I am tech support for my In-Laws!

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recruitzpeeps@reddit

Oh my father in law is hopeless, he’s never even owned a cell phone. He’s 87. My mother in law does well with her iPhone, she’s very disciplined about what she clicks. But, if she needs a new phone or new app, I have to set it up for her. She’s a good student though, she takes notes, so I don’t mind. She’s such a sweet lady. 😊

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RedMeg26@reddit

This was my dad too. Learned to program in machine code, hand writing the instructions so the typing pool could turn them into punch cards. Unfortunately he predeceased my mom by over twenty years. Helping her was a lot, at times. The one that stuck with me the most was her "broken" mouse. She had no idea it had a battery inside that occasionally needed replacing. "But-- it's *wireless*"

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HBJones1056@reddit

That’s so great! My dad is the same way- he’s always been my a/v and computer tech support and he’s 83.

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Chestnut-Stoat@reddit

I had one parent who immediately took to computers and self taught, remarking often "I love computers!" even into their 80s. The other parent did their best to use email, unaware that attachments appeared in downloads folder and there were thirty identical email browser tabs open. When I was surprised they explained, "nobody ever showed me this." When parent computer whiz died, my spouse and I took over as tech support for parent 2.

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NowWeAllSmell@reddit

Same, my dad even installed new breakers on our main panel!

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HBJones1056@reddit

These dads of ours… so capable!

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Beth_Pleasant@reddit

Same with my dad. We had one of the first TI computers! Now my in-laws on the other hand. I do not know what the heck they do, but they completely kill a laptop in like 2 years. Then my husband has to buy them a new one (they pay him back, but he does the work), and transfer everything and get it all set up. My MIL pays extra for the tech support subscription and I swear has to call them like once a month.

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recruitzpeeps@reddit

TI!! Hunt the Wumpus! I played that game endlessly!!!

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Beth_Pleasant@reddit

My favorite was the cat and mouse game. Cat Trap maybe?

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Kajzi@reddit

My silent gen mother (mid 80's) is actually pretty up to speed. It's sort of impressive to be honest. My boomer (mid 60's) friend is completely clueless. To the point where he's been hacked multiple times, fallen for scams multiple times....yea.

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SenatorBeers@reddit

Thankfully my parents got a Mac which makes it my sister’s problem. lol

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Capital-Meringue-164@reddit

I helped an octogenarian navigate paying for parking in a garage with no attendant or kiosk - just a QR code. I tried to teach him and then at one point I just asked if he could give me the phone to assist. I was thinking the whole time that this may likely be me in 30 years, if I’m so lucky to make it to 80.

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ivyskeddadle@reddit

May you live to grow old

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scarypappy@reddit

What irritates me is when they think I should be able to navigate their particular set up like they do, like I know how you decide to label your files, just apps in different locations than what you are used to are going to slow you down. Give the same ones a different or new device and you hey will lose their shit because they can’t find anything.

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mmfn0403@reddit

Tech support for my aunts. They have a lot of nieces and nephews, so they have quite the team. Rebooting their phones seems to solve most of their issues.

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

My 87 year old FIL gets some help from my SIL, but he was an engineer and can generally figure things out. He only asks for help if he really hits a roadblock. My 77 year old uncle is a software developer and owns a software company. He also did some obscure coding for the military because it was old code and hard to learn. He can hack into your system and fuck your shit up. My dad never asks for help. Years in the Intelligence sector. The only people I do tech support for are my kids. I find it’s the kids who don’t have tech literacy. They can use the tech; they can’t figure out the problems because they didn’t grow up with the back end.

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Possumcucumber@reddit

This is so true for us too, most of our parents are very competent, we have some genuine computing pioneering old timers in our extended family who have kept up their skills and curiosity but our son (turning 19) is not remotely interested in tech stuff and has zero back end understanding so needs our tech support pretty often. He’s a creative social sporty person who dislikes screens, doesn’t game or use social media much at all but computer literacy is just unavoidable for negotiating his studies and life admin etc so he needs to work it out!

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Possumcucumber@reddit

But of a mixed bag and they all have their stressful issues but overall we’re pretty lucky on this at least- my mother (84) is highly competent, my dad 81) is generally pretty good and will generally problem solve by himself successfully, my father in law (87) is very competent but likes to stick with his older self built pc, and my mother in law (84) is almost completely tech incompetent. She can message in Instagram now with effort but is afraid to use electronic car keys. Can use internet banking but is very afraid of it which is probably a good thing as she is a sitting duck for scammers. Honestly my mother and father in law are probably more tech savvy than I am (and I’m pretty decent) because they use tech/internet for very specialised stuff and are much more back end competent than I am. I also have an ex stepfather who was a computing guy since the late 60s and is still EXTREMELY tech savvy in his early 80s - miles ahead of pretty much everyone else I know. He was programming on those big old beasts with the punch cards and all that and has never stopped with that spirit of discovery.

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Oh-No-RootCanal@reddit

It gets weird at the intersection of tech and dementia… Older friend in early days before diagnosed with Alzheimer’s called me saying her sister can listen to her from 1000 miles away. She also hears her sister yelling at her. Me - Did you accidentally butt-dial her? Her - NO!!! Sister installed a secret listening device in the house!!! No matter what room I’m in she’s yelling “I CAN HEAR YOU!”

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8itbangr@reddit

Dementia sucks. I'm increasingly fixing problems my Mom can't describe clearly and are usually things she's just forgotten (often temporarily) how to do. It tries my patience when I get accused of changing things on her computer when I haven't been over there in days. That and most emails I get multiple responses because she doesn't remember that she already answered them.

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loothi@reddit

Yes. 😞 Soon i will need to take her PC away, she is too vulnerable for scams.

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8itbangr@reddit

Probably same. I've wondered if there is some sort of "moderated" email setup to where I could set up approval and/or filters/whitelists. I also need to get her off Windows 7, which is no longer supported.

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MelodicToken@reddit

Dementia does suck. I get an email every now and then that seems like it might have been her trying to Google something. Like a celebrity name or the title of a show. And she clicks on the spam for online casinos (and denies doing it even though there are forty browser windows open on the website).

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throwaway23418888@reddit

True story-My MIL was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and for a while before she moved into a care home, she insisted that her youngest daughter (of 5 kids) had put a listening device in her house because "She knows everything I'm doing!". We of course just thought it was the Alzheimer's. NOPE! Daughter had installed microphones & "nanny cams" all over the house in an effort to be appointed "conservator" and put in charge of my MIL's hefty bank accounts (didn't happen)! We found them when we packed up my MIL's house after she moved into a care home.

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Max_Sandpit@reddit

My mom is 88. She can’t work her tv remote. I just keep showing her and hoping for the best.

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Fender335@reddit

I do almost everything that needs to be done online for my mam.

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loothi@reddit

Yes, I am tech support too. The saddest bit is that my mum now cant remember things that take multiple steps - like attaching a picture to an email. Early cognitive decline 🙁 It really sucks for them.

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Federal_Fisherman104@reddit

You have parents alive? - appreciate every day you have

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ljinbs@reddit

For my older brother. I should have never used Team Viewer on his computer. Now he expects me to help him all the time.

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blumpkinator2000@reddit

My mum's issue isn't lack of ability as such, but lack of interest. When you really don't care about new technology, but it's being forced on you because that's just how things are nowadays, I can see why her first reaction is "I don't need to know all that, I just need to know how to turn it on and make it do X and Y". It's not just tech, but appliances too. Anything that integrates with a smartphone and has an app is a no-go, likewise if it requires scrolling through menus on a little display. Whenever she needs to replace anything, I have to research it first in the hopes she'll be able to use it, and even then I still make a point of typing up and laminating a cheat sheet to leave nearby so she can refer back to it.

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HippCelt@reddit

Yeah that's me . My parents are complete duffers when it come to tech . The problem I find is more certain websites/services rather than hardware inssues...Take ryan air my folks 10/15 years ago had no issues booking tickets. Now their website is a complete upselling mess . Even I have issues with it . also more companies are moving stuff online and it's a giant pain in the arse . From banking/insurance etc. Some are fine other are a nightmare . I work in tech so I know what I'm looking out for. A lot of companies are leaving the elderly behind. kinda sucks really.

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BigDougSp@reddit

My mom (boomer) uses iPhone. My dad (silent) "has" an android. I use an android. My wife (millenial) has some weird android. This creates interesting situations with generational differences. Since we have a toddler, we do frequent video calls for my mother. We use Facebook messenger as the platform, since it is easy and reliable on our phones, and my dad can use the webcam and browser on the computer to load a video call I start. My mom asks me to show her how to do it on her iphone. Sorry, but I don't know apple products. (Actually this happens with just about every elderly person in my life who uses iphone) My dad is amazed that I can video call his phone directly, and asks why I cannot call mom's phone directly? Apple and Android built-in video formats do NOT work together. My dad asks why we don't use his android for video calls? Because he never uses it (and doesn't know how to). Like, the battery is always dead and he never carries it. Housephone and computer are reliable. I wish we could, because then I can lock the screen to keep my toddler from messing it up. Why don't we switch mom over to the other product? Because she has severe Alzheimer's and learning a new platform creates a whole new pile of problems. My dad asks why I have to hang up the regular phone prior connecting a video call? I can only be on one call at a time. My wife asks why don't we don't just use Zoom, Google meets, or get this other new software etc? Because they can barely use their phones for the most basic functions. We are LUCKY they can manage Facebook on their computer.

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56KandFalling@reddit

I don't mind helping out so far, but it does require time and patience. I think the society is failing to offer better IT education for elderly (and others who struggle with it). It's frustrating and even scary for some and add to the feeling of not being able to keep up anymore for so many elderly people. It's not fair.

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Common_Alfalfa_3670@reddit

My parents use Apple computers and I, a long time PC user, can't stand them. Apparently you can't look at the file structure to see where things like pictures or files are stored (they "lost" all their pictures once and I spent 3 hours trying to find the location on the hard drive. Couldn't). So they spend their whole day driving to the Apple store and pay one of their "gurus" or "geniuses" the big bucks to solve their self-inflicted problems.

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Gizlby22@reddit

I was. Until I had to distance myself from them and then my niblings took over. I’m so done with it.

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goingloopy@reddit

My brother is in IT, but he’s not good at explaining things (including driving directions), so my mom calls me, but she is also smart and has figured it out. She loves her iPad. She also set up her neighbor’s Roku and they FaceTimed her grandson (who didn’t think she could do it) to gloat. My dad was sort of tech-savvy, but had the Home Screen full of icons.

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rahnbj@reddit

When my in laws visit they show up with all their devices. I’ll give my FIL credit though, even though he can’t do much tech wise it doesn’t make him afraid to get more tech. Last time he came with his laptop, Fitbit , iPhone and ipad, all newer and nicer than my versions of the same. Had complaints for each one. Sigh. First hour is always tech support and long winded explanations. My wife tells me after to stop with the explanations, just tell them sun spots or something, they’re not remembering anything you tell them. My mother has dementia and used to call daily , usually after one of her cats stepped on a remote and ‘messed everything up’. Amusing and exhausting

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Likely_A_Martian@reddit

I worry more about them getting scammed. I constantly have to remind them to ignore junk email and texts.

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misscrankypants@reddit

Have you gotten to the point yet where they buy things off FB ads and then their card gets scammed? I bet my mom is on double digits replaced cards now. I didn’t think it could get any worse. But it can, Now she’s at the point where she can’t remember how to do simple things on her laptop. It’s rough. I feel for you.

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Myeloman@reddit

I’m currently wiping the memory on 1/2 a dozen old iPads for my wife’s step-mom. She always buys the latest iPhone or iPad and I’m talking top of the line stuff, and doesn’t even understand how to use anything beyond the basics… she has rebuffed my repeated efforts to show her even the most mundane things, and every time we have to log her into something it leads to creating new passwords because she’s saved (as in written down on actual paper) so many and never crossed out a single one so there’s no telling which one is the most current/active one. My wife’s mom on the other hand is keen to learn whatever I’m in the mood to teach her and I’ve got her setup with a couple Hue bulbs (which her husband hates, making it all the more enjoyable for me 🤭🤫).

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_SkiFast_@reddit

I was, rip, but now I'm tech support for my wife and my GenZ son who can only use phones and Xboxes to play games and youtube. Someday.

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mazopheliac@reddit

I’m tech support for my kids too .

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tmchd@reddit

Only for my in-laws. My parents are very savvy with computer. Both parents were in IT and engineering. Heck, my dad even had even worked on that Apple Pay program in the past. My whole family (from my side) is very into IT and computer. My in-laws were blue collar, truck drivers, etc. So they often ask me to help with the phone, computer, etc.

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Zesty-B230F@reddit

My dad now thinks everything should be free. He calls me every 6 months and asks if I have any laptops "just laying around" that I'm not using, but he's expecting i9 and 32 gigs of RAM, full MS Office suite, and PhotoShop preloaded.

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JenniferJuniper6@reddit

My mother was absolutely terrible like that. My father, on the other hand, is 93 years old and owns and uses a laptop, iPad, iPhone, and kindle without much difficulty. We’re still tech support for him, but it’s not a frequent occurrence.

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BBAus@reddit

For my bosses.

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chzplz@reddit

Got rid of the PC’s, gave them both iPads. Best thing I ever did.

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mapleleaffem@reddit

Yep and my sister got him to switch to an android phone so I can’t even help him with his phone anymore. I like to remind her that’s on her lol

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VA1255BB@reddit

"I'm the browser because I'm browsing the Internet." -my mom

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mahjimoh@reddit

I saw a really cool feature on iPhones the other day that might be helpful for at least one aspect of this? Someone made a little video about the Assistive Access setting under Accessibility. It makes it so you can limit the apps, it makes the app buttons huge and changes what they can do, and to set it up or turn it off you have a PIN - so, you could make the phone a little more Murphy-proof for an aging parent. https://preview.redd.it/4t5ghbpzns8f1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bff830651b4a968d496f81cbf4408fae4df86334

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KWAYkai@reddit

Funny thing is that you wouldn’t be able to navigate life without the technology. Landlines, paper maps, phone book/yellow pages, encyclopedias, the card catalog at the library, cooking from scratch, no microwave, old style push mowers, finding a job/car/apartment in the classified section of the newspaper. Try walking a mile in their shoes. And remember, someday your kids & grandkids will be helping you someday.

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Sweaty-Bed6653@reddit

My dad (75) is smarter with tech than I am. My in-laws, on the other hand, can’t work their TV at least half the time.

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NHhotmom@reddit

My Great Aunt is 101 and still n facebook! 15 years ago when she was 85 she was playing Farmville and would post on her facebook feed “Need a donkey”

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mechanicalpencilly@reddit

And you think it wasn't maddening to them when you couldn't figure out how to feed yourself or use the toilet? It's your turn now. Suck it up

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baebeebear@reddit

My favorite tech support observation from my MIL is “do you mean the frying pan on the top left? How is a frying pan search?”🔍

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linseeds@reddit

I'm tech support for too many people at work and in the community orchestra I'm in. I'm 45, why am I still the young person who does computer stuff for them? I've been helping them for 30 years and they've all had computers long enough to have basic shit figured out at this point.

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mamabear2023228@reddit

My parents have both died. My mom died 19 years ago. That woman said she’d learn to use a computer over her dead body. True to her word, she was. Lololol.

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Extra_Simple_7837@reddit

I really wonder about them. I am almost 73. I don't ask my kids zip. I can't afford Wi-Fi, I have an iPhone. I just figure out what I can and I avoid what I can't. I think that some parents use tech as an excuse to interact with their kids.

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OwslyOwl@reddit

Oh yeah, I am definitely my parent's personal IT department, and I'm totally okay with that. I know all their passwords so that I can log in and help them remotely.

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Article_Even@reddit

It’ll be even worse when it’s you doing it!

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SERVANT2aCORGI@reddit

Trying to figure out if this is my child’s post! 🧐

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LowCommunication9517@reddit

I bought Mom an iPhone to replace the fake Android she bought from Temu.

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DanishWhoreHens@reddit

My mother browses the internet while talking to me on the phone and forgets I can’t see the screen. Have you ever sat on the phone while your elderly mother looks at clothing patterns on the internet?!? It is the 2nd ring of hell.

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Mean-Yogurtcloset942@reddit

Just updated Wi-Fi a few minutes ago at mom and dads. Had it down to you need a new white box but your blue box is good. Their modern was from 2013

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rollenr0ck@reddit

This is one of the reasons for the great divide and the desire to return America to ‘better’ times. Imagine being out of it since the 1990s, and tech leaving you behind. There are baby boomers who don’t have cell phones, or have one that doesn’t connect to the internet. Now they can’t communicate with the government, doctors, many dining and entertainment places, and pretty much life. Life was better for them before everything started to change. Now they are mad at the world, and isolated, but it is because of their own stubbornness and not adapting to the changing world.

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New-Specific4225@reddit

My 83 y/o mom wants streaming tv. 85y/o dad will not allow us to install WiFi cuz he can’t wrap his head around how it works, like it’s voodoo or something. It is maddening, struggle is real.

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Silver_Basis_8145@reddit

I remember watching the movie War Games with Matthew Broderick when I was little and was amazed by Joshua the computer. My how far we have come as I communicate with multiple complete strangers and this small device in my hand!

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Few-Pineapple-5632@reddit

My husband is 10 years older than me and he is almost as bad as my father with tech ineptitude.

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SuzIsCool@reddit

I worked in tech support for years. My company didn't offer the iPhone at launch, so I started myself down the Android route and never looked back. So when the parents were entering the smart phone game I put them into iPhones, my brothers preferred brand. Hehehehe

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dmckimm@reddit

Recently I had a Parent who found a floppy disk and was instantly convinced that it had pictures on it. I spent an hour trying to explain that computers didn’t even have pictures when those disks were being used. Computers only had green and black squares to work with. I had to order an external disk drive to read the thing and show that it was just a blank disk. They were upset that they had to wait for the drive to arrive and were convinced that I could have slid the disk into my tablet. I couldn’t communicate the level of that’s not how technology that was made forty years apart works, they are completely different. They are still holding onto a laptop because of “old emails” being stored on it. I have tried to explain….

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StrawberryOwn1123@reddit

oh it's not "the internet isn't working" over here it's "It won't let me\_\_\_\_\_\_"

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-LordDarkHelmet-@reddit

The wall above the table where my mom sits most of the day is full of post-it notes of passwords for her computer

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Hour_Goat_2486@reddit

And they have friends! I could make it into a side gig if I hated myself. I do love to help, but it’s just not a rabbit hole I can dive into every weeekend

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FannishMusings@reddit

At least twice a week I have to reboot my mom’s tv receiver. Which I have repeatedly shown her how to do.

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tg1024@reddit

My parents, who are in their 80's, were early adopters of tech. But, we have had to help out on occasion. Most recently, mom clicked on a link that she shouldn't have, but realized it immediately and stopped working on the computer. Dad looked at it, realized he wasn't sure what to do and called my husband. Took my husband a little while to figure it out and fix it. My brother just got them a ring doorbell, but my husband gets to install it!

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Limp_Elk_5520@reddit

Buy them a TP Link router and let them befriend a Chinese hacker who can provide IT supporr…

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RikB666@reddit

I work in IT, always been tech savvy. My FIL, not so much. A hammer is about his limit. But what he does, is looks at my carefully researched and sourced tech, sees what I am using it for and thinks 'I could use that, that's great' He then goes off to buy the thing. But does he get the right, quality thing? Of course not. He buys the cheapest of whatever dodgy out dated knock off that looks the same as what I have. Then? Can't figure it out, because it isn't a hammer and proceeds to call me up to get it working, all smug because it was about 10% of the cost of my tech. Of course, it doesn't fucking do what he wants, can't do what he wants, will never do what he wants. And then proceeds to get all pissy at me because he bought a piece of crap.

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Kilashandra1996@reddit

My dad wanted a new laptop. I sent him & mom a whole list of specs to look for in a computer. I sent them a ranked list of 5 actual laptops, with the url to buy them. Nope! Dad went to Target and told the salesperson that he wanted the cheapest thing they sold. So, WTF did you bother to ask me what to get????

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Cthulwutang@reddit

guess he forgot the price of labor!

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4sliced@reddit

Oh god that sounds so familiar!

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LuckyAd2714@reddit

Ugh

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Hifi-Cat@reddit

Yup..full time IT, project manager, shopper, repair man.. And everything else. I run a kingdom of 1.

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cowbutt6@reddit

I find it more maddening that tech isn't designed to accommodate older people (and people with disabilities). Things like: \* design and operation that is consistent from version to version \* customizable fonts and font sizes \* customizable delays for "pop up" help texts and menus (my late Mum had aphasia as a result of dementia, and found it hard to understand on-screen menus on TVs before they disappeared again) \* simplified user interface modes (e.g. beginner, intermediate, advanced - which incrementally expose more features and settings) \* on-screen indicators of available gestures \* text descriptions for icons None of these are new principles, so it's especially frustrating when these aren't adopted in modern tech.

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No_Hovercraft_821@reddit

My brother takes care of my parents IT, but my wife and I deal with her Mom's. My printer isn't working. I have a virus because it says so and I called them and they want money. My phone stopped working. It goes on & on. Just set up a new printer for her last week, but I forgot she is on a chromebook -- fortunately it all worked together.

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worrymon@reddit

My dad was a programmer for IBM until the mass layoffs. We got a PC with employee discount in '83. I'm willing to help but he'd rather figure it out himself (he does ask for help if he can't figure it out, but at that point I'm as lost as he is.) When dad's not available, mom has a friend she can call. Which is fortunate because she has all apple stuff and I only know windows. Mom has a notebook with instructions for the various TV remotes and streaming services and whatnot.

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epicpillowcase@reddit

The opposite. They're better at tech than me.

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affabledrunk@reddit

My dad (83) was pretty good using windows for so many decades but I could see he was having issues in the last few years. As the world became more and more ios-y, he seemed to like using his iphone and it seemed that migrating to just an iphone and ipad would work as its all a single ecosystem. It's been a trip since then to see how his brain trained on windows 3.1 type mentality cannot exist in this touch world. it's exactly like the generation of adults that learned to use command-line interfaces (i.e dos/unix) when they were faced with a mouse, his mouse/windows understanding cannot make through to the abstractions of touch computing, especially all the gestures (swipe down from the middle of the screen, long-press...) he just can't get it. I'm a little better (obviously) but it's made me aware that I'm similar in that the fundamental compute UX/UI abstractions that I feel the most comfortable with are 90s/2000s windows xp type environments. menus, control panel, right-click context sensitive menus. I still think that this is superior to the incoherent, inconsistent and yearly changing conventions in touch computing.

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RainbowDarter@reddit

I once had to drive 800 miles to push a "source select" button on a computer monitor for my 80 year old mother..

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Sneezy_weezel@reddit

Oh my goodness, I’m not alone! My mom can’t figure out cell phones and only watches YouTube on her tablet. She would constantly call me until she moved into a nursing home. Now she asks the staff to troubleshoot her issues 😅

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1singhnee@reddit

Both of my parents had careers in tech. It was cool, because it meant we always had gadgets in the house to play with. And now not only do they not need tech support, they actually understand me when I talk about my job!

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Nancy-4@reddit

Ugggg I work for a big wireless company in a retail store in Florida no less. Some days I just want to scream if your not “techy” go back to your flip phones!!

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Andyman1973@reddit

Folks haven't had a tv in 10yrs, haven't had cable service for 20yrs. Have had internet since AOL dialup days though. Don't know when Dad got into computers, but was using them in the Army in the '70s. We got our first one at home in Jan '86. Mom doesn't use the home computer, but uses an iPad. Dad does use the home pc, mostly for records keeping and such. For other online things, he uses his iPhone. Both have Apple Watches as well. My girlfriend's folks though, quite helpless with tech issues, lol.

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succored_word@reddit

Makes me wonder what we won’t understand in 30 years…

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Some-Ad-3705@reddit

My kids do this for us but I try to write it down or video it so I can do it myself

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windowschick@reddit

We both work in IT, so yeah. We've been tech support for decades longer than we ever did paid support work. Latest adventure: MIL bought a new TV on Friday. Sent husband a text asking him 1) was he at work (um, yes?!? today is Friday.) and 2) how to set up the TV. Somehow she managed to send him the QR code without getting to the website the code directed to. I'm lucky in that my elder nephew is a teenager and thus capable of handling most things my father screws up. He only calls me if he can't figure out what dad did.

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HeyKrech@reddit

My grandparents thought I was the most incredible grandchild ever because I set the clock on their vcr to the correct time. Now I'm tech support for my mother who REFUSES to read the step by step instructions I have listed on a post it ON HER SCREEN. I get every email forgot my password sent to me so I know she's having yet another issue selecting Forgot Password instead of looking at her screen or selecting the pop-up Log Me In option. She has a new cell phone and now has just bought herself a SMART WATCH. she hasn't used her cell phone since I set it up. And her good friends at HSN have made sure she has yet another device she does not need, doesn't understand, cannot / will not use and is basically tech trash because it's the lowest quality (HSN is garbage repackaged).

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Deep-Classroom-879@reddit

Hell I feel like I’m losing the plot

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coyotelovers@reddit

My mom drove me crazy for a decade or so. She wanted help creating an Etsy site. Well, that turned into me doing too many things. She wanted me to drive the hour and a half to do the photography, fix her computer, and troubleshoot all her problems. I told her No- it wasn't even possible. I work full time and was taking care of 3 kids. She stopped talking to me for a year. She mostly gave up on Etsy. She calls Geek Squad and pays an exorbitant amount of money for basic help. She recently replaced her tablet with a new $1k tablet, which she only uses for FB and internet browsing. She has always refused to listen to me.

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Emotional-Regret-656@reddit

My 86 year old mom with dementia loves Facebook but is falling for all these the scammy people trying to message her. I have to check her account every day and clear out and block these people 😩

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Yikesish@reddit

My Dad was good at tech. My mother didn't know any. Both are gone. Be patient with them.

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MaxwellEdison74@reddit

I'm tech support for my parents, my wife, my kids, my sister, my coworkers... I really hate the fact that nobody I know is willing to put in the slightest amount of effort to figure out anything or solve any problems on their own.

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foeplay44@reddit

I’m tech-support for the entire world it feels like

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DireStraits16@reddit

I guess I'm lucky. My stepdad is 80 and he's a tech wizard.

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Curiousone_78@reddit

My mom doesn't even have a cell phone. She still uses a landline and has Facebook.

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PicoDog153@reddit

💯

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SoylentGreenIsCreepl@reddit

My 83 year old dad calls watching anything on Netflix "watching a Netflick" 😆 He still can't decipher between his text messages and Facebook messenger. I haven't had Facebook in years, and he'll "text" me in messenger even though I don't have it. I have to explain that he has to use his phone text service, and he can't figure out the difference between the two. He could design and execute the hell out of building a chemical plant, though.

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DragonflySmall6867@reddit

My mom is pretty techy. She wants me to help her with her digital picture frame, but that's about it. My dad, on the other hand, got his first smartphone a couple years ago. He can NOT deal with instructions over the phone and has cussed out many a customer service person. I feel so bad for those poor people who are just trying to help! So from time to time, I go to his house and do technical things for him or show him how. Last time, I taught him how to send things to people on fb. Now he sends my kids and I 15-20 reels per day that we have no interest in watching. 🤦‍♀️

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Eye_Of_Charon@reddit

Yep 😶

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Rand0m-String@reddit

Don't get me started. I feel sorry for my folks. The platforms change things so often I find it hard to keep up. I'm in IT so I am the default tech support for the entire family.

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MrRemoto@reddit

I'm tech support for my parents, my kids, neighbors, friends and extended family, and thousands of co-workers. I don't mind it, though.

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Avasia1717@reddit

i’m tech support for my dad, my wife, and my kid. sheesh.

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mnsundevil@reddit

They've bypassed me and moved onto the grandkids!

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Ready_Broccoli8512@reddit

And my mother takes “facies,” not selfies. I mean, she’s not wrong so…ok.

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Ready_Broccoli8512@reddit

I have passed this task along to my daughter. She has the patience of a saint with my mom. I want to slam my head on the table.

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AncientHorror3034@reddit

My step dad was in the AF, fucker got a certificate from Devry, (born 1964) I’m completely clueless when it comes to computer and tech. I’m the last person anyone in my family comes to for IT. It’s a running joke. Luckily my SO is in telecommunications, so I’m going to be set up for IT issues. Honestly, I can’t tell you how much I don’t understand computers. While I know enough not to sound dumb, my Gen X ass should be embarrassed to be part of this generation.

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Without_Portfolio@reddit

Whenever my parents invite me over my dad takes me aside upstairs. I’m always thinking he’s about to finally reveal some deep family secret but the real reason is he wants me to set up desktop shortcuts for his Gmail accounts. At least I got him to cancel his AOL account. *This year.*

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ThatContribution7336@reddit

I reset my father’s online banking password about 30 times in his last year of life

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Lazy_days23@reddit

Oh yeah that’s me for sure. My mom somehow at least once a month or so turns the brightness down on her phone so it’s too dark for her to read anything. She also can’t figure out how to send or respond to a text and several people have shown her.

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These_Plastic5571@reddit

Parents?! How about my boomer husband?!

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Impressive_Star_3454@reddit

My mom just had to do a quick intake for a doctors appointment with a few questions that tick boxes. It overwhelmed her and I had to take her phone, sit at the table and read the possible answers to her and then returned the email/doc.

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Use_this_1@reddit

I'm not but my BIL is, he's a CIO, so all IT related issues get routed to him. All mechanical/plumbing/electrical issues get routed to my husband all HVAC/electrical go to my Stepbrother.

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justlkin@reddit

If you know shit, you should seriously consider not letting people know that you know shit. My partner is a mechanical/DIY/electrical/etc genius. He can build or fix anything to do with cars as long as he has the tools, with just a few exceptions. He can fix almost anything in the house even down to plumbing and electrical, again, if he has the proper tools. And with all of these things, he does good, quality work. The downside is that he's constantly getting called to friends and neighbors houses to fix things for free. These freebies can sometimes take a whole weekend and they might take him out to eat. We don't need the money, but he needs his time. Unfortunately, he doesn't know how to say no. I can easily, but he can't.

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u35828@reddit

That's quite the engineering firm, lol.

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Use_this_1@reddit

It is quite handy to have all this in the family. What is even better is on my husband's side what we can't get done, his brother can do as he's a general contractor. We never have to pay more than cost for any repairs. It's fantastic.

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ReluctantGoodGuy@reddit

I mean, we know it’s not completely an age thing though. Some folks can “think” like a machine, and some can’t. It’s like there’s a “troubleshooting” gene that only some people have. I’m 45 and tech support for my wife (42)…if it’s not Facebook, i/os, or Excel, she cannot do it. My dad was tech support for my mom, which has fallen to me now. My uncle was helpless, but had my aunt & her 40 year IT career. My daughter is only 11 and has always been able to work her way through most tech, starting on a LeapFrog tablet at 3. My 9 year old son…no way. His school issued Chromebook might as well be a brick.

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ronnieberries@reddit

My MIL refuses to get a smart phone ("too complex") and after more than a decade and hundreds of calls, still struggles with how to turn on her camera on Skype and Zoom on her tablet. It's exhausting because she doesn't understand technology basics, much less remember them when shown.

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Cooperman411@reddit

My mom is the same. The latest, “Your number isn’t in my phone anymore.” It’s like you hit 80 and you can no longer read. “What does it say on the screen.” Getting her to tell me what she sees or what it says is like pulling teeth.

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Q-ball-ATL@reddit

Yup. Mom only has tech because I've given it to her. Therefore, she has Apple stuff because it's what I use. She called me last week, saying, ' Before I call Spectrum, I wanted to check with you. I have a computer issue, and I can't get to anything.' After talking and discovering exactly what's wrong because she's bad about saying one thing and meaning something different, she explained it was either an unplugged cable or a failed monitor. Yeah, the cable for the monitor had worked its way loose over time. Don't call the Internet provider for that. Ugh. At least this time, she checked to make sure the monitor was turned on before calling me. Previously, she'd called Spectrum because she couldn't get online. They couldn't figure it out. She called me, and we talked about it. I figured out the monitor was not on. Of course, you can't "get online" if you can't see what you're doing because you turned the monitor off! Oh joy.

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justlkin@reddit

I used to work tech support for Verizon. This included some support for things on a laptop or PC because tethering was the big thing for getting mobile data back when wifi wasn't so universally available. The amount of people who didn't have things powered on or plugged in, but completely lost their shit and blamed us for things not working drove us all insane. Honestly the amount of overall user error that people blame on anybody else is ridiculous. Or, scream at us because they didn't pay their bill and get their phone turned off. Yeah, my bad buddy, sorry I didn't pay your bill along with a few million other people this month.

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AlienApricot@reddit

Sounds frustrating… kudos for your patience

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QuirkyForever@reddit

Yeah, I live 2.5 hours away from my mom so sometimes I just tell her she has to find someone else to help. She's gotten good at going into the phone store and asking them for help.

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PopMusicology@reddit

Try attempting to walk your boomer mom through setting up a wireless printer over the phone from several states away. It took so long and was so maddening that I seriously considered driving the twelve hours back home to set it up myself. 😭

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justlkin@reddit

We've been pretty lucky. My dad and FIL have now passed. MIL is deathly afraid of technology, so she only uses her flip phone and we've only had to occasionally help with deleting unwanted texts. My mom actually went to college for computer science and coding in the early 90s, so while her training is pretty outdated, she's kept playing around on computers the whole time and can handle pretty much anything I can in her 70s. This thread makes me realize how amazing that can be for someone her age. I'll have to give her some props next time we talk.

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Heavy_Spite2105@reddit

My Dad used to be tech savvy but not anymore. He can't keep up. My mom won't use any modern conveniences or technology. My Dad can't even do the math to leave a tip.

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Gweveraugh@reddit

🙋‍♀️

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BrianOfAllThings@reddit

My friends’ parents yes, for sure. Mine are relatively younger and both worked in IT so I learned a lot of skilz from them.

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Kimmahtoo@reddit

"I can't use this new phone I bought. Worst purchase ever!" Yes, dad. Let me show you again. And repeat.

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Rich-Emu4273@reddit

I’m a retired electronics tech and the IT guy for my daughter and granddaughters.

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wills2003@reddit

I was poised at the perfect center of tech support for both my preteen and for my elderly aunt. The problems they were having were so weirdly similar. I agree it's maddening. The thing that helped most - moving both folks to Apple. I prefer Android, but the tech questions dropped considerably after they switched. When said pre-teen was old enough - I put him in charge of the easier tech-support questions for aunty, and he assisted on anything more complex - so it became a learning opportunity for him. The remote issue... love [this option](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:40731/comments) on Thingiverse - if you have a 3D printing option available to you.

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BizarroMax@reddit

Mine are in their mid 70s and they actually do pretty well. My mom actually got herself a Mac and taught herself how to use it. I’m finding that I’m getting into that age where I find technology opaque and annoying and I just want my kids to tell me how to make the goddamn TV work. I can figure it out, I just don’t have the patience.

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Separate_Shoe_6916@reddit

Our son is tech support for us, 😂

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GrandPriapus@reddit

My parents cannot understand that different things have different passwords. About once a month my dad will call to tell me he “changed the password” and now “it’s not working.” When I ask what password was changed (Apple ID, computer admin, router, email, etc.) he doesn’t recall and when I ask what’s not working he says “the computer.” Inevitably just restarting the computer resolves the issue.

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ashaggyone@reddit

Dude, i end up being tech support for my zoomers.

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plantsrpeople-too@reddit

Thankfully my dad gave up on the smart phone and just had a simple phone. He does not need to be on the internet. Lol.

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SassyTechDiva@reddit

What’s even more fun is dealing with people like this at work. Age has nothing to do with it. I dunno how IT professionals do it daily.

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Glittering_Sky8421@reddit

I used to go to my Mom’s and fix her various computer/printer/TV troubles. I wish I still could, she’s been gone for 7 years now.

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No-Chocolate5451@reddit

I’m tech support for my Gen X husband!

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kmvalencia@reddit

Yes! My parents need help with paying their bills and don’t trust paying them online. So they want me to pay them by phone… on speaker phone with them listening. It takes hours when I could do it in minutes! Drives me insane!

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Raxian_Theata@reddit

about 8 months before my dad passed, I saw his PC (from 2003) was dying. So I bought him a new one. He was very happy. Than my #&@\*)$\^ of a step mom kept it when she stole my inheritance.

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Firm_Accountant2219@reddit

Not me. My mom lives 250 miles away near my sister. My family is all Apple, they are all Android. So even when I’m there I can’t help… and that’s on purpose. I am an IT professional and get asked every little thing, and I got sick of it. So when Android came around I avoided it like the plague to stay ignorant.

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NaughtyLittleDogs@reddit

I used to do that for my mother. She's a boomer, in her mid-70s, and used to work with computers until she retired. But once she wasn't required to keep up with technology for work, she lost interest in it completely. For the first 10 years or so, she just asked for help. But now she has declared that its ALL a waste of time and refuses to use any of it. She got rid of her cell phone, gave her iPad away, put the Chromebook I gave her in a drawer and does absolutely nothing online. On one hand, I'm grateful to have one fewer thing to worry about but it's also made life super inconvenient. Anything that requires online access, I now have to do for her. She never sees the photos of her grandkids that get posted on social media, so I have to have them all printed for her. And she complains that she never knows what people are doing. She hears stuff from her friends that they have seen on Facebook and then gets mad that they know more about her family than she does. But anytime I pull out her Chromebook and show her how easy it is to use, she freaks out and tells me she going to put it back in the drawer as soon as I leave.

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Stanley1897@reddit

Can I suggest an electronic picture frame that you can upload to remotely with the grandkids etc….

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NaughtyLittleDogs@reddit

Yeah, my sister gave her one for Mother's Day a few years ago. She also stuck that in a drawer. She insists that the world is "going to hell in a handbasket" anytime you suggest that a tech gadget might help her.

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jilabeauty@reddit

Got one of those for my elderly mother but she keeps it unplugged. Waste of electricity, she says.

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

This *might* be an early sign of cognitive issues.

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NaughtyLittleDogs@reddit

You are probably right. Her mom started showing signs of Akzheimer's at about this age. But she's stubborn and refuses to get screened for that too. Until she's more clearly disabled, I can't do much about it. It's frustrating.

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andyr072@reddit

If our parents are shopping for tech on HSN that automatically is a red flag that they have no clue. I have customers whose computers I go and set up and when I get there I can almost always tell when I bought it on one of the shopping networks because they talk about how great deal they got only for me to have to break the news to them that what they bought was severely underpowered and all the free extras they promoted during their sales pitch is all pretty much worthless.

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5childrenandit@reddit

https://youtu.be/EeDGAEBD49Y?si=ibmVQ02lTcihjMn4 'I'm on the dark web'

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heart_blossom@reddit

I am! Mostly it's kind of fun

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Out_of_Darkness_mc@reddit

Hell, I’m tech support for my own gen x husband!!😂

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Extension_Excuse_642@reddit

Same. He used to be great at it, now he just gets frustrated

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Out_of_Darkness_mc@reddit

Mine, too! It’s like watching someone at a senior home!

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Crewstage8387@reddit

Yup same for my wife. Once my kids became teens I left it to them. I will Google to figure things out for myself but sometimes I will just have them do it. It’s hard enough being auto mechanic, carpenter, plumber, electrician, handyman, pool tech, custodian, dishwasher, part time folder of clothes etc. in addition to my day job

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LuckyAd2714@reddit

Lmao — my kids are tech support for me !!! I did my Masters online and we had to do endless presentations and graphics and pretty stuff is required. I can’t do canva for shit. My 13 year old to the rescue !! She deserves an honorary degree. Funny thing is my college internship hired me and how they need a social media person who is a canva master - guess who they hired - my daughter. Lolololol.

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

That’s awesome! I was never “good at” art stuff. That’s what I consider Canva - I don’t like it & I’m not good at it. I have zero interest.

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Kestrel_Iolani@reddit

I use it as a reminder to remain open to new tech. Except AI. Fuck AI.

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FleshSackWithThought@reddit

My own parents are okay. My MIL has ruined several phones with viruses, etc. We keep having to reset to factory baseline. Sigh. She also has a hard time with internet/media literacy. Can't tell what's real or not, and when we present her with the actual facts/events tells us it's fake news. It is so hard to have a simple conversation because an older person like her can get ALL new information (news, health info, etc) from crazy sources and you can't get them to change their minds! UGH. I feel like I have a 75 year old child.

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AmanitaMuscariaX@reddit

And now my kid is my tech support. I have seen the enemy and he is me.

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ZetaWMo4@reddit

No. Apparently my parents think I’m as old and clueless as they are so they immediately go ask my 16 year old nephew or my 20 year old son for tech support.

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

I am good with this choice. 😄

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baltikboats@reddit

Reminds me of this comedian. it’s about 2 min worth watching for some laughs. https://youtu.be/hJWJ1zZ9vu0?si=P2m2TD6xLqjXKIMt

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

![gif](giphy|ECtLJKdGj8jfy)

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WoodpeckerFuture5305@reddit

I posted this on my facebook page and tagged my brother, lol

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redbeard914@reddit

Parents are 91/96. It is maddening. Mostly PEBKAC

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

What is PEBKAC?

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redbeard914@reddit

Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair Pronounced like Peb-kak. Generally said with heavy derision.

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Sprzout@reddit

My mom...I love her dearly, but the folks at the Verizon and Apple Store play rock paper scissors when they see her coming in the door. When I got her an iPad to replace her old computer (the iPad is perfect for her, she only uses it to play a slot machine game, solitaire, send emails, and pay bills), she complained that she didn't think she could use it. I told her it was just as easy as using her cell phone (an iPhone), and it would even feel the same. She raised hell over it, and I finally had to tell her, "Look mom, it's time for you to step into the 20th century." "Aren't we in the 21st century?" "I said what I said, mom."

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monstermack1977@reddit

Mom was never a computer person. She can handle simple things, so that's how I've set things up. She has 2-3 apps she uses on her TV. She can handle games/FB/texts on her phone. Her problem is she'll occasionally fall for the scams on social media. She thinks that if its on Facebook it must be okay. I keep reminding her that almost nothing on there is real. I've got her PC setup with a very basic desktop. One shortcut to open the browser and only 1 set of bookmarks which are her monthly bills and her online bank portal. One shortcut for Amazon. She isn't a web browsing type person so that's all she needs. I have to help if something out of the ordinary comes in like a document that needs a digital signature. For the most part she can handle what she does and I don't mind helping with something she doesn't understand.

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

I so wish I could block FB ads for my dad!

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GypsyKaz1@reddit

My sisters and I curbed that a long time ago. We told them they have the same access to Google as we do to learn how to do things. I work in tech so yeah, I got (and sometimes still get) all the Internet related questions. My dad recently wanted me to figure out how to do something on his tablet. I said I don't use tablets for what he does, so I don't know. That he was actually way savvier on his tablet than I am. He also doesn't use the same apps I do on my mobile. And we don't use mobile devices in the same way (I'm more of a laptop user for many things). But really, what's a browser? C'mon, that's ridiculous. Browsers have been around for 30+ years.

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Shaneblaster@reddit (OP)

Mom knew what Google was but not what a browser is.

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

My parents only understand “browser” as a computer thing, it doesn’t compute for them on their phones. They forget that their smartphones are actually supercomputers.

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LastRedshirt@reddit

I worked in tech support from 2008-2018 and I often had to use "please open the internet program, the small blue E, yes, Internet EXPLORER". Many people are barely able to use internet on a computer.

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GypsyKaz1@reddit

And back in the late 90s/early 'aughts, I understood that. Anyone who is still barely able to use a computer is on their own. That's willful ignorance at this point.

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LastRedshirt@reddit

absolutely. I try not to call it "weaponized incompetence" -.-

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themewedd@reddit

Calls-can you text me again? You disappeared! (She closed the text). Noone talks to me anymore! (She put it on silent) My game disappeared (she deleted it by accident) where did this game come from (she hit download from other game trying to get ad to close) Why is my phone so slow (you have 87 tabs open!) Ect....

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

My MIL keeps asking me my opinion on various YT ads. At least she asks instead of purchasing!

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FirstNoel@reddit

Every time I see my mom, "I think my phone has a virus" "No Mom, it's an advertisement to trick you to install software" "But it pops up all the time!" "All the time? or only on games?" "Well, on games." "Ignore them, or send me a picture to confirm"

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Physical-Ad-3798@reddit

"How do you copy and paste something again?" Said my mom for the 4 millionth time today.

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advwench@reddit

Sometimes I walk my mom through fixing tech issues, but I've passed the trickier stuff down to my son. He's able to remote in to his Gram's computer, which makes it a lot easier to figure out what's going on.

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

This! My son has remote access into my parents computer & my MIL’s too.

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tonna33@reddit

My younger sister (a millennial) is usually their go to person. However, when she moved across the country, I became the go to person. I'm good if I'm right there to do it, but I'm unable to just help them over the phone. I need to click around to see what's going on. Now my sister has moved back, so she gets to help them again! She's also my go to person if I'm thinking of getting some type of new tech. She's just good at doing some quick research to determine the most cost effective solution. I could do it, but I know I can text her and have an answer within 5 mins. I like that I've become the old person that gets to ask the questions now!

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Responsible_Let_3668@reddit

I gave them both iphones, showed them how to use them. Told them they were designed so babies could figure it out, and I still got calls. Eventually the need trumped the fear of ignorance and they figured it out. I still have to help sometimes with stuff but they can figure out WiFi and saving passwords and email so I feel like I’ve done my duty

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Taranchulla@reddit

My boomer mother went from her parents house, to being married to my dad and then my stepfather. She’s never learned to handle anything because of it. I have to help her with everything and it’s frustrating because her brain is fried from 40 plus years of vodka. So I have to go over shit a million times and then she still can’t retain the information.

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cmb15300@reddit

My mum took to computers straightaway, though sadly she went to Newsmax and that ilk

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WhiskeyAndWhiskey97@reddit

So you've met my parents and in-laws ... When my parents finally knuckled under and bought a microwave, I had to teach them how to use it. It was a sure bet that if either of our phones rang with their dedicated ringtones, they had computer problems. When MIL called, I could count on being a "computer widow" for the next hour - hmm, let me queue up the latest Black Mirror or Handmaid's Tale! (Neither of which my husband will watch.) All four of them have passed away. It still would've been nice for them to call and ask "How are you doing?" instead of "It won't go. Can you make it go?"

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sparkleberry75@reddit

My Mom is a retired mainframe programmer. She does pretty well with technology.

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MinoltaPhotog@reddit

Pretty much. "Do I need to call this 800 number to fix my Windows?" "When did I sign up for a McAfee subscription for $597?" "Don't click on that!" I think (hope) I've got mom trained to believe NOTHING on her computer screen, and to call me first.

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Worldly-Wedding-7305@reddit

I spent days trying to convince my dad that a google/android phone had to be logged into a Google account and that once he logged in, his new phone would repopulate his contacts..

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ecochixie@reddit

My 88 year old mom can use her iPad but I’m constantly having to fix things. “I don’t know what I did…” She refused to learn how to use an iPhone. I make her carry it with her so emergency personnel can reach me.

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tunaman808@reddit

I work in IT. My dad has *always* liked gadgets, but he almost always made me set them up and show him how to use them. He knew almost NOTHING about PCs when he retired in 2003, but he's made a LOT of progress for an old guy. He can fix many things, and actually has pretty good decision-making skills. He writes stuff down, too, which makes it easy for me to show up later and be like "OK, you've tried this, this and this and it hasn't helped". By the time my dad tells me about an issue with one of his or mom's devices, it's usually serious or maybe one of those issues which can have 6 equally-likely causes.

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Budgiejen@reddit

My parents are dead. But my dad got a smart phone, a little late. Maybe about the time I had an iPhone 6 or 7, he got a 4. And I showed him how to send texts and take pictures. Helped him download a couple apps that could tell him how deep the river was. He taught himself how to send me pictures. Of fish. He was a huge fisherman. He knows I hate fish. But anytime he had a good catch, there it was in my phone.

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Embarrassed_Wrap8421@reddit

I’m tech support for my 78-year-old husband. He looks at his phone in total confusion, muddles around with the TV remote, and has never used a laptop. However, I have to give him some credit—he can drive a car with a stick shift and I can’t.

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aliceincrazytown@reddit

I live in a different country from mine. Memory is an issue. We got them to install Whatsapp and we used it a few times, but now they forgot how to use it. Anyway, they rarely use their cell phones and never even remember to charge them. I've had to keep a land line, just for them. Now, email they can do, but now they say they can't be bothered to type out a reply, so I guess I won't be getting rid of the damn land line. They are about to turn 80 and 83 this summer. Luckily my brother is an IT specialist, so at least there is that.

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rottenbox@reddit

If my mom calls/texts I know it's really broken. She was a university librarian and has been using computers since the mid 80s. My dad was ok as long as he stuck in his lane and my step mom is very computer savvy so would solve any issues. My in-laws are hopeless. My father in law finds new and creative ways to make things not work and my mother in law basically won't touch a computer. My wife and sister in law stopped being tech support for them long before I came around for good reason. Tell them a solution and immediately it's no that's not right. Generally great people but anything technology related becomes instant stress and yelling.

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Realistic-Day-8931@reddit

Well, I was kinda tech support for this older lady coworker. She called me out to her place once because she said something wasn't working. All she had to do was read the popup box and hit a button. All the instructions were right there in front of her she just had to read. I was a bit annoyed because it was like a 30 min trip to her place for a 2s fix so to try to make the most of it I decided to check a few other things while I was there and ended up helping her organize her bookmarks. She had hundreds of bookmarks with NO folder organization. It scrolled on, and on, and on. Luckily, that was the last time I'd heard from her. I think she got her neighbor to help her from that point on to my relief.

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A_Square_72@reddit

Also for my wife and kids, especially about dealing with online procedures, although for the latter it depends on their interest. They won't need me to buy tickets for a show, but apparently can't figure out how to ask for a scholarship for their dear life.

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Scooter310@reddit

Yup. I roll my eyes every time the phone rings. And its nit just my parents. Im the resident fix it tech guy for my whole family.

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ArtBear1212@reddit

I feel it is only fair since they had to show me how to dress, feed myself, and drive.

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Honeybee71@reddit

Before my mom died, she could do Some stuff, but would write down THE ENTIRE WEB ADDRESS to save a video. Dad was clueless, and I was having to walk him through how to navigate the internet. He never figured out where the giant X Was lol

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Knotty-Bob@reddit

Please be kind when you help them. Remember they were kind to you when you were learning to tie your shoes and use the potty. Don't act upset and don't treat them like they're stupid. When they apologize for bothering you with the request, tell them you're happy because it gave you an excuse to visit.

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Careful-Use-4913@reddit

I functioned as google for them, until they finally got it & started googling themselves. Now my eldest (19) functions as tech support. For his retainer/pay he gets a phone on their cell plan.

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BlueFeathered1@reddit

I don't have my Mom anymore, but every time we'd get her muscle memory down to confidently navigate her main streaming TV service (like Spectrum), they'd go and change their UI for no fucking reason, requiring two or three additional steps to get her where she needed to go and having to learn all over again. THAT was maddening! It's not always the parents' failing, but the useless chaos these tech companies throw in to make things utterly unintuitive.

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North-Country-5204@reddit

My dad was kind of tech savvy back in the day just when people were getting personal computers. Now in his 80s he gets frustrated as simple task or adjustments with his phone/watch/tablets/ desktop he can’t remember. Another part of growing old that sucks.

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id_not_confirmed@reddit

My parents are gone, so I'll just answer this about myself. I'm not tech savvy, but the basics of using a home computer and pocket computer are pretty easy to figure out. The internet is full of info, so if I can't figure something out I look it up. If I still can't figure it out, I ask my spouse if he knows, then keep tinkering with it. There's more that I don't know than I do know though lol.

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puskunk@reddit

I'm super lucky my father was IT support through much of his career, so between him and my equally qualified sister and brother in law, this family has tech support on lockdown.

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FAx32@reddit

My dad, 81, knows his limit is watching failed boat launch vids on his iPad. Bought him an apple watch mostly to detect falls and a handy thing to text someone or call 911 always strapped to his wrist. He likes it and it mostly because it is a watch, so didn’t resist. He refuses to carry his phone. Never leaves the charger next to his chair. Mom, 78, really tries but has the most convoluted ways of doing things, so constantly calling me when she gets stuck - unfortunately anything that deviates from her standard limited tech knowledge completely befuddles her. She turned down the volume on her phone and couldn’t figure out why she couldn’t hear incoming texts and calls yesterday. 🙃

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Playwithclay11@reddit

First question of tech support is always is it plugged in.

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phatduckk@reddit

My dad's pretty good at everything. He used to work as a tech repairing TVs, camcorders etc back when that stuff was expensive and has done really well at getting a handle on computers, the web etc. So he covers that side of the family... On my wife's side - im tech support for her folks, and sometimes, their friends

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Traditional-Panda-84@reddit

I thank my lucky stars that my mom is willing to dog into the details of fixing her tech. She only calls me if she truly can’t figure it out or is afraid that the attempt may break it.

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Quix66@reddit

My mom was on the internet before I was. Then she taught computer liter at the college level way back in the day (she's 78 and long retired). Back then she was the one guiding me step-by-step. Now, somehow now I'm the fix this problem person and the printer fixer. Then one day I realized she'd moved the printer from her bedroom to the family room and had hooked it back up just fine. I'm still not suspect savvy but I can generally follow the tech person guiding me so that my job now.

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sajaschi@reddit

When she finally decided to get up to speed with a smartphone, I told my mom to get the iPhone, because her sister has one and then they can FaceTime and it'll be easier for both of them. But really it's because I'm Android and didn't want to be her phone tech. 🤷🏼‍♀️

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kwill729@reddit

Every time I visit my 88 year old mum I have to show her how to do text messages again. My dad used to be pretty tech savvy but dementia is creeping in and if something goes wrong with the internet or logging in to something he pretty much loses his mind over it.

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Starbreiz@reddit

I work in tech, but I told them if they want any help from me, no more Windows :) I do Linux, so Mac has mostly just made sense to me.

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HouseofMoops@reddit

Mom and her iPhone will be the death of me.

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splorp_evilbastard@reddit

Me. My wife also tells people 'I married my tech support'.

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NearlyBird809@reddit

My 93 year old dad was a systems analyst back when computers had punch cards lol. Doesn't have a computer anymore, but uses his phone & apple watch like a champ!

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IcyCryptographer5919@reddit

Yup. I’m gonna start charging since I’m unemployed.

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Suspicious_Time7239@reddit

My dad lived 12 hours away and many times I would talk him through things over the phone.. I miss that and him.

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travelinmatt76@reddit

I took a computer class in college, but it was just because I needed the credit. The class taught computer basics and our final was installing a motherboard, graphics card, sound card, USB card, plugging in a mouse and keyboard, then installing windows. I kept having to explain to my dad I couldn't help him with his blue screens of death. And he couldn't grasp the concept of taking a class for credits you needed to graduate.

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random420x2@reddit

Weird how you miss it when they are gone, but it drives you up a wall when you are doing it

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Tardy_Turtle73@reddit

When my mom got her first computer I gave her a crash course in email and using a browser to find a website, creating bookmarks, etc. 30 minutes after I left she calls me and says she wants to return her computer. I asked her why and her reply was, “I lost my Google and have no idea where it is!”. I laughed for at least 15 minutes on that one. Bless her.

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RidiculousDear@reddit

*Raises hand* I’m my dad’s IT chick. Honestly though, he’s really not that bad. He tells me when he’s frustrated but he never acts out.

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qgecko@reddit

Mother-in-law decides to send a complaint letter to Delta Airlines. She asked me to install WordPerfect on her laptop so she can type the letter. Then I’m to help her print it, scan it, then attach it to an email. She’s already written the complaint on a sheet of paper. It’s like 4 sentences. 🙄

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rastagrrl@reddit

My 85 and 88 yo parents are completely and utterly technologically impaired. I gave them my old ipad in an effort to force them into the 21st century but it “didn’t take.” 😂

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ArtichokeDifferent10@reddit

I've spent most of my life working in IT, so... Yeah. I'll share one bright spot. I recently helped my 87 year old mother get a new (used) car. Believe it or not, a Bolt EV. (Yeah, she's getting close to not driving at all, but is still safe for in-town driving, hence the choice for a mostly "city car".) Last Friday I went over to her house and got her phone paired to the car, made sure Android Auto was working, showed her what cable she needed to use for her phone, and set up the 6 numbers she would most frequently call as priorities so they would appear by default on the main phone app screen. I figured I'd have to show her a couple more times to cement the lesson, but today my phone rings right after she was completing a Dr.s appointment. She happily told me she was calling from the car and loved it! 🤣

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Kennesaw79@reddit

My dad is was a software engineer and is a computer genius. He builds custom computers for fun, and could write a program to destroy the world. He worked for the Coast Guard for 20 years, in charge of their software and computer systems. When he moved and got a new smart TV and new cable provider, he would call me weekly to "fix" his TV because he "couldn't get back to normal TV" (cable box). He would select an app on the smart TV, like Amazon, and didn't know to change the input back to HDMI. I showed him dozens of times, but he kept trying to use the cable box remote instead of the TV remote. I think he gave up and only watches cable on the living room TV and only watches apps on the bedroom TV. He also can't figure out how to use his cell phone. He doesn't understand that he can answer a call and hold the phone up his ear - you know, like an *actual phone*. He thinks he has to press Answer and then press Speaker. We can be sitting in a busy restaurant and he'll put it on speakerphone. And he doesn't know how to turn on Do Not Disturb, he just turns the ringer volume down with the side button every night.

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8itbangr@reddit

One solution we had for a while was that my wife, son, father-in-law, and I all had the same model cell phone. We could all help each other, since, once past the simplified UI that Consumer Cellular put on my FIL's phone, they were all the same, so we could collectively help each other.

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advocatecarey@reddit

My mom finally thinks I’m a genius!

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dbez@reddit

100%. My 82 yr old Mom attempts to provide tech support to her 83 year old bestie. They inevitably make things worse and I have to unravel it all. No matter how many times I ask them not to do it, they always think they can handle it without 'bothering' me.

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RunningPirate@reddit

Mom was never tech savvy and it got worse over time. Once I was visiting and she called me in to say the remote control wasn’t working…she was holding her cordless phone. For her DVD player I taped off all the buttons except stop and play. Still couldn’t manage.

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Coconut-bird@reddit

My dad is great at that stuff, my mother can do enough to get by. But sadly, I am at the point where I have to ask my 19 year old for help with anything involving the tv/stereo, wi-fi and video equipment. I swear he set it up that way just to make me feel stupid.

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Munchkin_Media@reddit

It took me years to teach my dad how to use the internet. He asked about Facebook and why he would care about what someone he met once had for lunch, and I didn't have an answer lol

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silkywhitemarble@reddit

Same here! I make and answer phone calls, check the voicemail and text messages, "prevent" viruses and hackers, pay bills, and "fix" the remote. Thankfully, my mom isn't on social media. At least I am home to do these things--it's an absolute pain to have to do it over a phone call--I know this from my line of work. A former co-worker calls this 'family tech support".

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suffaluffapussycat@reddit

Tech support for parents and kids.

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This_Fkn_Guy_@reddit

I was for the entire family brothers, aunts, parents, friends parents, friends, UNTILL I switched to an android phone, now I just say I don't have an iPhone or anymore I don't know...its been alot quieter and I love it....no unnecessary group chats, no tec support, should have done this earlier hahahahahaha

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ancientastronaut2@reddit

My duties was deleting voicemails and creating reminders on my mother's phone whenever I visited, setting up bills for autopay, and hooking up the dvd player that for some reason she kept disconnecting.

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Relevant_Ad5351@reddit

I work with people who think that if they can't figure it out, it's stupid. And if it's stupid it must have been my idea. I'm not even IT, not trained for this shit, just bumbling along as the most capable one in the building. But every time the lights go out: "I can't get this scanner to work!" "Did you turn the computer back on where it scans to?" "No...."

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Silent_Creme3278@reddit

I have a teamviewer account set up to direct connect to the laptop in times of crisis. Sucks living out of state

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Realistic-Bass2107@reddit

My husband is 21 years older than me (Vietnam Vet). He messes stuff up all the time on the TV, Tik Tok, cell phone etc. it is maddening but I love him 😉🤣

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justme7256@reddit

Oh my god! My dad bought an entire iPad so he could use his company’s time recording web site. It was weird though, because it kept cutting off letters. I did my best to make it as easy as possible but I’d still get a call because it wasn’t working. I’d come over, try it, it worked fine. He just wasn’t doing something right. But then he told my brother that I refused to help him.

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Acceptable_Mirror235@reddit

My mom is more tech savvy than I am and I dad hasn’t been interested since he retired. My youngest daughter is my tech support.

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joanarmageddon@reddit

My dad was a programmer. I can't do any of it.

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SomethingHasGotToGiv@reddit

Imagine how exhausting it was for them to help a toddler, child, teen learn how to navigate the world.

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Self-Comprehensive@reddit

My dad is fine with tech. He's 82. I might have to teach him something now and then but I don't have to constantly fix his stuff or do things for him. I had to teach him to use a smart phone and how to deal with windows 10 but once he knows, it's ok.

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winklesnad31@reddit

Ok I need to share this story I live about 2500 miles away from my parents. Once they called me saying their cable TV in the kitchen wasn't working. I told them to try unplugging it and then plugging it back in. You know, the most basic first step in trouble shooting electronics. They couldn't understand what I was telling them. So when I finally visited them about 3 months later, I went to the kitchen, unplugged the cable box, plugged it back in, and of course the thing worked. Lost a lot of faith in them that day.

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TurtleToast2@reddit

I'm the one asking my kids how to work all this stuff now. Perimeno brain fog is no joke. I'm the dumbest I've ever been and I was a pretty dumb kid.

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CoderPro225@reddit

My brother is a software engineer. He got so tired of my parents IT questions that he networked all of our computers so he could just remote in without having to come over. Not gonna lie, it’s nice for me too, when I have an occasional issue. He’s fast and efficient and fixes it. 😜

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Fantastic-Emu-6105@reddit

Me, I work in Finance but am the default IT and iPhone expert for my parents. I sit there on ChatGPT trying to troubleshoot their issues. Then they break something or click on a phishing scam, or answer the phone and give the caller their credit card info, or any other pitfalls that aging adults fall into.

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ThreatofJoy78@reddit

Same for my parents who live 45 minutes away and come by just to get me to fix simple(ish) tech-related issues. I don't have a problem with it though. At the rate things are going, I am certain I will be there eventually. You have to remember that we grew up with one foot in and one foot out of the tech world so it's easier for (some of) us to navagate than our parents. Honestly I would rather help them fix things however mundane it may be than not have them around asking me to fix the mundane.

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Hungry-King-1842@reddit

My mom used to be pretty computer literate but she’s been slipping the last couple of years. What doesn’t make it any better is the grand kids coming over and messing with it and getting her even more screwed up. Consistency is paramount to helping her. When she needed a new phone I got her an IPhone for this reason. Say what you will about apple devices but their ecosystem IMO is the most friendly and consistent whereas every android is different.

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Bitter_Ad_9523@reddit

I work in tech as well but I'm finding that my kids know more than I do with certain things or they knows whats popular vs I havent a clue.

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PrairieGrrl5263@reddit

Mom handles most issues herself now, since I trained her how to look up and troubleshoot her own tech. It took a while to get her to nail down the basics but now if she calls me for tech support I know she's at least started the process herself and has at least "turned it off and turned it back on."

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bgier@reddit

IT person here - my Dad calls me for only one thing and that is tech support. He is also a tough customer because he gets frustrated and I have to be on my best CS behavior. I have a strict agreement with my three siblings - NO NEW TECH for our parents for Mother's/Father's Day/B-days/X-mas. No Bluetooth speakers or fitness trackers or anything involving streaming are allowed.

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Ambitious_Lead693@reddit

I still call my 80yo mom when I need tech support.

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esk_209@reddit

I am, but it's all long distance, so it's rough. However, I found someone local who does "tech housecalls". So I pay him to be on call for my parents. My dad will build up a list of 3-5 things that either need fixing, need adjusting, or need learning then he'll call and Our Guy will go out, fix/adjust/teach whatever it is and then send me the bill. It's totally worth it!

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8drearywinter8@reddit

Yep. Even though I live in another country. I'm trying to solve their problems via facetime calls, or by doing whatever they can't do and documenting each step with a screenshot, sending it to them, and THEN walking them through the steps via facetime.

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Pale-Owl-612@reddit

Imagine how they feel. I would imagine it's more frustrating, confusing, and somewhat scary for them to not understand.

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sunqueen73@reddit

Yes. After dad passed i am basically tech support, Facilities management and accounts payable and receivable. My mom could never do the basics of anything and now its worse than ever as she gets forgetful with age

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afteeeee@reddit

My parents have the weirdest things happen with technology too - I'm always just baffled, like how did this even happen? My mom doesn't know how to even get into her settings but somehow turns off really important stuff. My mil turned off every program with Microsoft in the title on her laptop then didn't understand why her laptop wouldn't work anymore.

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ImpressiveHat4710@reddit

I'm tech support for my 91 year old mom. I'm 250 miles from her which makes things tough sometimes. I'D do some sketchy shit to be able to remote into her phone to fix things.

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Queasy-Bid-8106@reddit

Yep, I absolutely hate this. My mom is 75 and has ALWAYS refused to learn how to use technology. She has thrown literal pity party temper tantrums for decades whenever anyone tries to help her learn. It’s weaponized incompetence. She just wants everyone else to do for her.

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Longracks@reddit

The main thing is wanting to read and empty the junk / spam folders.

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DonegalBrooklyn@reddit

I'm tech support for my 14 year old who still acts like he knows everything. Or tries to tell me how to do something with a computer when he's 100% wrong. Learn how computers actually work, kid!

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mindcontrol93@reddit

My dad may know more than I do. He helped create GM/Delco's in vehicle GPS systems. I had to teach my mother how to use a mouse 20+ years ago. Now, she is good at figuring things out and not being scared to try stuff. It also helps my brother supplies her with hand me down Apple products.

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CombatRedRover@reddit

At one point, back a long while ago, I was working in DC. My parents lived about 2 hours away. When they needed to send an email for the family business, they had me drive all the way back to their home to send that email. At a later point, I was living on the West Coast while mom was on the East Coast. We eventually had to install teams software so I could just use her computer from the West Coast.

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ny-central-line@reddit

My parents both worked jobs with a decent amount of tech involvement (mom was a chemist and then tech writer, dad was a metallurgist and materials scientist before becoming a manager), so luckily they can handle most of the basic stuff even in their 80s. The only thing that really seems to confound them are “no UI” devices, like the WiFi weather station my brother got for my dad a few years ago. (NGL, I find those things to be a bear, too, and I worked as a software developer.)

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moeshiboe@reddit

I’m tech support for everything and everyone in my orbit. Got invited to game night a few Saturday’s ago. I spent the majority of the evening reconfiguring their security cameras and updating the app so they could get alerts. Next thing I know we are being asked why are they getting so many alerts 🙄

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slade797@reddit

It’s amusing to me that my younger coworkers assume I don’t know anything about computers because of my age, and the fact that I do not touch type. I told a young guy the other day, “Friend, I’ve been using computers since 1986.” He was born in 2001.

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alcohall183@reddit

I'm so lucky and glad that my dad was the IT/Helpdesk guy at his job. My husband also. I don't need to help my mom with anything right now, she just hands it to my dad. He sets up the wi-fi, Roku, smart tv, google nest, phones, cloud saving, YouTube settings etc... I don't have to do a thing.

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NowWeAllSmell@reddit

I'm pretty damned blessed. My old man is still really savvy. He brought home the first computer I ever worked with and used to assign me programming assignment over the summer. That and he's farsighted so he can STILL see things up close way better than I can. And he's good with a soldering iron. Dude is always fixing things that other people think are beyond repair and he's helped me and my son get into the repair-it-yourself mindset. The look on my kiddo's face when we opened up and disassembled his Steam Deck was priceless. He looked at me like I was Tony Stark.

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bizzybaker2@reddit

My 75 yr old mother was finally convinced to get a "flip phone"but refuses to text on it or set up her voice mail as she is too afraid to attempt it. Still has a land line and my sister had to record the answering machine message for her. She has a debit card but still uses cash for everything and writes paper cheques for her rent and gets on a city bus with huge wads of cash on her in some not so nice settings. Her 85 yr old brother in law has a Facebook page, facetimes his great grandchildren even 🙄🤷‍♂️ Glad my sis lives near to her (I am 2 provinces away). I mean my parents were always a bit technologically adverse growing up but if I lived near her and was dealing with it I would be tearing my hair out lol

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dogfaced_baby@reddit

“I don’t know why I have so many emails. I can’t keep up.” Then huffily ignores every suggestion to fix it. “I don’t want to accidentally miss something important.” Or “I heard if I unsubscribe that actually signs me up for more junk.”

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SometimesUnkind@reddit

Tech Support, lawn care, handyman, healthcare worker, sometimes chef… the list goes on.

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LnGass@reddit

I will retire at the end of the year, this will be what I do in retirement for older folks.. I am working on some programs and presentations to give to the older generation about Tech, Scams and all that goes along with it. I am going to try and market it to retirement communities and places like that. If I cant stand it, I'll stop and do something else :)

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MsMameDennis@reddit

My husband’s 87-year-old dad is on the tech support squad for his senior-living community and teaches people how to avoid phone/digitalscams — we don’t worry about him or his wife at all. Mom has gotten pretty tech-savvy since Dad passed about two years ago. Dad used to do all the tech stuff, but Mom (who’s almost 78) has made herself learn it and is now a huge fan of things like mobile boarding passes, texting to schedule medical appointments, videoconferencing with her siblings, troubleshooting Wi-Fi issues, using an app to check whether she closed the garage door, etc. Every once in a while, she calls my brother with a laptop question (they have the same model), but in general she’s up to speed and very savvy when it comes to phishing and robocalls/texts. Long may it last!

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chuckles39@reddit

I was but they have passed now, but before they used to drive me nuts. They had cable and one of those remotes with every button imaginable, when all they needed was a power button, channel selection and to increase the volume. But somehow they would keep pressing buttons until they got the TV on input and couldn't figure how to get it off that screen. Ugh

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ErnestBatchelder@reddit

My mom had a stroke so she calls me on her phone to ask how to dial someone else.

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Grimholtt@reddit

I'm tech support for the parents, sibling, kids, friends, etc.

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JonathanTrager@reddit

Not only for my parents, but their close friends and my MIL & FIL.

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furiousm@reddit

Absolutely. And with my mom being 300 miles away I get the added bonus of having to try to fix things by telling her what to do. And her being very impatient and wanting things to work RIGHT NOW.

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beyondplutola@reddit

I was tech support for my parents (oh the joys of reinstalling Win95 again on a 386sx because dad fucked up the OS beyond unfucking) and now serve as tech support for my Millennial spouse, who can’t even remember the WiFi password after it was changed 5 years ago.

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BearMiner@reddit

Gen X that has been living in a 55+ retirement community for almost 6 years now. I am the tech support for the whole park. Would be annoying but the people are nice, I have NEVER had to mow my postage stamp lawn, and at least weekly someone comes over to visit and gives me an "extra" hot meal that they had just cooked. For me at least, it balances out in the end.

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YellowBreakfast@reddit

Thankfully my dad supported computers from the early days so the help I give him is minimal.

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muphasta@reddit

I passed off tech support to my youngest son years ago. He has a the ability to keep his patience with my parents and explain things over and over, as calmly as the first time he explained it. He is 17 now, and has been doing this since he was 12. He is incredibly tech savvy and keeps up with many updates on devices and other tech.

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FabAmy@reddit

It takes a lot of patience.

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Puddin370@reddit

Me. The most annoying was my aunt that lived 5-6 states away and called me for things someone needed to look at in person. She had 2 grown sons. One lived a within walking distance and the other lived upstairs. 🤦🏾‍♀️ My Dad will call when it's beyond something simple he can figure out. Like he'll call to have me setup his new router.

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ThisCromulentLife@reddit

My dad was an early adopter of technology when I was young. We had a home computer when it was unusual for people to have one. I was the first of my friends to get internet access. Now…he’s so paranoid about technology, and is soooo bad at what he does use. Complete 180! I hate that so much is phone/app based. My parents technically have cell phones, but they don’t use them unless they are traveling and they’re almost never charged. They do not text. Every time something requires an app, it is a two or three hour initial call to get the app installed and to get them enrolled, and then multiple support calls after because they immediately forget how to use it. I also frequently have to entangled things when they put their land line in instead of a cell phone foe 2 factory authentication where it will text you a code. One time they were traveling, they could not park at a tourist destination because it was all paid parking that you paid for by app. Or you could text the number, which would send you a link…to direct you to download the app. There was literally no way to pay, so they had to leave because they could not figure out how to pay the parking fee. Don’t even get me started on restaurants that only have QR code menus.

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Several-Honey-8810@reddit

My father in law, got a new apple phone and wanted me to help him with it. I won't do it because I am not an apple fan.

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Maris-Otter@reddit

At one point, my wife and I switched from Windows machines to Apple to be able to play dumb about tech support issues.

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roxywalker@reddit

NTA. If you don’t vibe, you don’t vibe.

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cronediddlyumptious@reddit

My ex husband is the oldest Gen x and I'm middle old Gen x. He comes to my house so I can use his phone to pay his bills and transfer funds. We're only 6 years apart and I've been using a computer since 85 when we're 6 had an Apple ii e to type on.... It's very frustrating. Over 30 years with email and still nope

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SergeantBeavis@reddit

Oh lawd, it's like I've got to teach my Dad something new every week. However, I did tell him I won't provide any Windows support. If he wants my help, he has to get a Mac. I've got enough Windows issues to deal with as it is.

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improperbehavior333@reddit

When I was in my 20s my grandmother would call me every time there was a power surge and the clock on her VCR would start blinking (90s). I used to get so irritated that I would have to go over there just to mash some buttons. Then one day I was over there to fix the clock and she was telling me that when she was a small child there were no cars, they traveled in a horse and buggy. And then we had cars, then airplanes, then we went to the moon, then cable TV, then computers, then cell phones, then smart phones. She sounded so exhausted by it all. I never minded doing that for her again, she kept up as best she could but it just kept moving faster than her, until she gave up. Also, I would happily fix her VCR twice a day to have her back.

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FnEddieDingle@reddit

I've been trying to teach my mom to text for 20 yrs

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delroy13@reddit

My parents always call me for their tech support, and getting remote access to their computer is the biggest hurdle. I spend about 30 minutes guiding them through the access steps, only to fix the actual problem in about 5 minutes. It's a recurring cycle, and despite doing the same thing every time, it's like a brand new process for them each time.

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Formal_Plum_2285@reddit

It’s maddening. But it has some satisfaction to it when you solve their problems and they basically think you are a God lol

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Chicagogirl72@reddit

Not me. I never learned myself

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LumpyPillowCat@reddit

My ~80yo dad is still amazing with technology. I have to provide tech support for my teens though! Whatever they are teaching in schools isn’t enough.

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NickWitATL@reddit

My dad smashed his smartphone with a hammer about 10 years ago because it "wasn't working right." Demanded that I go to Verizon to fetch him a flip phone. Then, he was pissed that his contacts couldn't be transferred. 🤦🏻‍♀️

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Digitalispurpurea2@reddit

I am my parent’s tech support and set up their devices (once I convince them to get new ones). Mom is pretty good with some things but they’re both comfortable with doing things “the old way”. Just got mom set up with the library app on her iPad, now she can listen to audio books as she’d stopped reading d/t vision issues in the past year. Dad is sticking with his mostly functional Galaxy S6 (approximate). My teen is my tech support, bless him.

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Sufficient_Stop8381@reddit

Mine are actually pretty savvy, retired electrician and teacher, so have used tech throughout their careers. In laws, on the other hand, who are older, can’t even order something online without my wife helping.

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Prestigious_Big_8743@reddit

My mom went back to college at 40 and got a degree in Computer Information Systems. While she's not as savvy as she was, she does fine with the household electronics!

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DisasterTraining5861@reddit

Funny story. After working for years in tech support and having my kids treat me like I don’t know how to do stuff - I lean into it big time now because I just don’t want to deal with tech issues or hooking things up 🤣

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ONROSREPUS@reddit

just remember you will have your moment of "how do I program this VHS" at some point.

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mesupporter@reddit

my mother inlaw uses tech support. I don't really keep track but several times she has had them come to her house for computer help. I don't know anyone else, ever to have that help. in fact I haven't even been on a computer in over 10 years. I can get it all done on a phone. she must be going to qanon of fox News sites. or maybe her computer is old and slow.

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Out_of_Darkness_mc@reddit

I never want to fall behind in tech because unless there is some catastrophic event, that’s the way of the world and I also need to stay relevant for my career! My husband-I honestly think it’s laziness! I’m around so why bother to keep up!

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this_kitty68@reddit

Wait until your parents have dementia and can no longer comprehend how to use their phone. That’s been super fun.

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FlippingPossum@reddit

My mom ended up working at a computer programmer. Honestly, I'd probably call my parents for a tech issue before they called me for one. I'm more of a minimalist when it comes to tech.

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Th3WeirdingWay@reddit

![gif](giphy|icJCVO3GPDbCvvfgpf)

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unclefes@reddit

Parents AND kids. I'm my MILs go to for questions about her phone, and I'm the printer guy for everyone in the extended family. My kids will literally wake me up if the wifi starts acting flippy.

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u0088782@reddit

My father is a retired MIT professor who wrote his dissertation on optimal control theory and did pioneering work on dynamic programming - now a foundational bedrock of modern computer science. So, yeah, it's really ironic that I have to clean spyware off his browser every few months because he doesn't know how to avoid clickbait and Trojan horses...

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Visible_Ad1693@reddit

I live in an apartment building for the elderly and disabled. I get asked a lot about fixing cellphones and Facebook.

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HLOFRND@reddit

To this very day my dad has still never used the internet, so no, not really. He has an old people flip phone, watches broadcast tv, and has never owned a computer. 😂

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choconamiel@reddit

I'm pretty tech savvy about things that have been out for awhile. I've had a computer since 1990, I taught my kids how to use them, I fixed them when the wrong button got pushed, I worked for Symantec for 10 years, part of that time answering calls from other tech support people and helping them get their systems licensed. So for years I've handled things quite fine thank you very much. My son (31) is a software engineer. I helped him get into college, helped pay for it, and told him "Since I helped you through college, you're my tech support for the rest of your life!" He laughed and said "I figured." He built a computer for his youngest sister (I paid for the parts, he put in the labor) when she started college. He understands smart phones, apps and smart watches better than I ever will. Whenever I need a new electronic item, I ask his opinion on the best to buy and he will give me a short list of ones that will work well for my needs. I used to be tech support, now I've posed on the reigns

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FloridaGirlMary@reddit

I remember being a kid in the 80s and hearing my mom talking my grandma through issues with her vcr. Oh how I wish the tech issues were that simple now with my boomer mom (75) and I’m 46. The scammers online are what scare me the most. Also she likes AI images on Facebook, sends them to me In awe and I have to explain it’s fake 🤦‍♀️

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fatpat@reddit

All of my support calls went down dramatically when I got my mom an iPad and my dad a MacBook.

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FullMoonVoodoo@reddit

3 days ago I got a notification on my credit card: "cash advance apartment cleaners" for like $25. Then mom calls me to tell me "hackers" got her bank account so she used my card while she's waiting for the bank to fix it. I didn't even know she \*had\* my credit card (thanks microsoft) This isn't like her either. Shes off her meds. I wouldnt think she would \*ever\* use my card without calling me first. I don't know how to deal with this

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Pointy_Stix@reddit

I tell my mom to call my teen. Hell, I call my teen for tech support.

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linniex@reddit

You mean “password reset support”?? I gave TF up. My mom creates a new email address every time she registers for anything. I have given them PC’s since the late 90’s and for certain reasons my mom never took to it. At this point it’s just laziness IMHO. That generation either gets it or is hoping to die off before everything is digital.

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Sky_Cancer@reddit

Done it for my parents and in-laws. Parents, set up their router, got them online and able to skype/WhatsApp with no issues. Installed teamviewer on the laptop I bought and configured (locked down 😅) for them. I'm on another continent so that was essential. Any time they have internet issues, they blame my brother 🤣 as he shares their internet. (It's actually his internet, he lives next door so we ran an eternet cable from his house to theirs and just piggybacked off it.) For my in-laws, I had them buy Apple stuff so their son who's an Apple fanboi can deal with that stuff. I sort out their Alexa and Chromecast issues which, thankfully, have worked fairly flawlessly. I did take care of my FILs computer before he swapped to an IPad. Basically a format and windows reinstalled every 6 months to clear out all the shit he was clicking on and downloading/installing. Locking it down helped. But yeah. Moving him to an iPad solved that.

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Lugknots@reddit

And it takes hours on the phone 🤨 My favorite is “I don’t see that on my screen.” Me: “It’s right on top, the left”

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mwatwe01@reddit

My parents have passed, but I have become tech support for my college aged children.

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WoodwifeGreen@reddit

Ha ha ha, everyday for my mom.

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Life_Transformed@reddit

My FIL before he passed was tech savvy, I believe my husband who worked in IT, had inherited his brain. Now MY mother, God help me. I bought her a microwave with a dial instead of buttons, simple TV, etc.

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Neuvirths_Glove@reddit

My son is tech support for me 😀

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SquirrelBowl@reddit

Stopped doing it years ago. Mom was the worst end user and would get mad at me when she didn’t know words like browser, internet service provider, etc. I bought her a year of Geek Squad for Mother’s Day and told her my tenure as tech support was done. These were some of the early signs of dementia.

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Jk8fan@reddit

Not me. My dad is 82, but he gets obsessed with whatever he works on. Cars, computers, building something.....he will absolutely dedicate himself to solving an issue or putting something together

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ErinGoBoo@reddit

They do it on purpose. My mother (76) had taken college level IT courses. The woman has built a PC. Yet she can't attach a file to her email. I have shown her how 7000 times.

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ionV4n0m@reddit

For my brother and sister (also gen X'ers) to some degree yes. Otherwise they couldn't give a fuck about tech.

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AyeJayy1980@reddit

This is where I fall into the 'sandwich' generation yet again. I have a parent who thankfully taught me a lot about computers and tech, because thanks to aging he has forgotten. It's disheartening because he"ll ask me about things that I only know because HE taught me. Now he's forgotten and it's on ME to remember said knowledge. Im also technically challenged with newer tech, so having an adult child who can figure out most things is very helpful. It's hard being smart and dumb all at the same time 😂

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bluntrauma420@reddit

Not for my parents but for aging people who are my clients. Just today in fact I had to explain over the phone on how to change the inputs on the TV so they can use the antenna until their cable gets fixed. Another time I spent a half hour convincing another client that they actually have multiple Wi-Fi networks on their router and the one labeled 5G is also theirs and not someone else's.

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Ashby238@reddit

We used to be but then our sister married a much younger man and he has taken over the “tech support” role. Luckily, he does something in telecommunication design and actually is tech support. He’s also dvd support and streaming support. We love him as do our parents!

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ragingclaw@reddit

I work in IT as well as some others but after this last election my entire family, including extended, disowned me because I refused to vote for a certain orange colored individual. Now I don't have to fix their virus riddled laptop because they won't listen to simple instructions. Before that, yeah, constant tech support.

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RhodiumPlated@reddit

My 97 year old mother has an iPad that she uses constantly. At least once a week my poor brother gets a call that it’s “broken”. He lives the closest so he gets the iPad Emergency Repair Duty. 😁

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TSisold@reddit

My dad can fix cars, roof a house, hang sheetrock. He retired from the railroad. But smart phones, no way. I was getting the calls about the phone all the time. He finally had to give up and go back to a flip phone. He's good enough at the laptop that he can use the internet, even buy online if he wants to. He watches YouTube for old movies. My daughter was going to show him how to stream movies over his smart TV, but I told her not to. I've had to fix the TV before when he got lost in settings.

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OldRocker25@reddit

Yup. I'm tech support for many people in my parent's generation as well as a ton of lazy ass younger folks who can't be bothered to do the very same Google search I had to do to figure out how to fix their shit.

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Cold-Inside-6828@reddit

I’m very tech savvy and end up doing IT work every time we visit my mother in law. One of the biggest things I have seen is that passwords are like kryptonite for older people in general. Both she and my mother cannot keep their passwords straight, constantly lose or forget them, and don’t trust a password vault app. So frustrating.

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architeuthiswfng@reddit

Thank god my 80-year-old dad is a gadget freak. Mom is reasonably competent, but Dad loves new tech. My MIL, on the other hand...

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golfingsince83@reddit

My grandma sometimes forgets how to use her tv remote, her phone and iPad but she’s 97. My mom is 71 and is still keeping up with today’s tech

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raf_boy@reddit

I'm tech support for my wife, who's 3 years younger, and refuses to learn anything computer/phone/tablet/laptop/tv… related. Anything that plugs into a wall, I'm expected to immediately know what the issue is and how to fix it (which I usually/eventually do). AND for my 11 year old… though she makes an effort to try to figure it out.

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OtherlandGirl@reddit

My husband is IT for our whole family - it dues get to be a lot sometimes, but he’s usually very happy to help :)

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rckinrbin@reddit

parents were our tech support for the first 18-22 years. they wiped your ass and taught you how to chew, you can reset the router chad...

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lilesj130@reddit

I was tech support for my silent gen Dad for years. Then my nephew with a computer science degree moved nearby and “improved” things. I told him all tech support was now on him (ha! I still get weekly calls). I sat with them both & taught nephew how to teach dad how to do stuff. Reminded him that we taught him how to use a fork anytime he’d get frustrated with Dad and I think it finally sunk in.

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IDMike2008@reddit

Came here to say exactly this.

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sfdsquid@reddit

My early 70s parents are very different animals. Probably why they found they were incompatible about 45 years ago. My father knows his way around his android phone, tablet, and computer. He even has a SoundCloud to upload his new music. My mother had a 7 or 8 year old OG Apple SE until a few months ago when I finally bought her a new (used) more recent model. In all those years she learned nothing that she couldn't do on a regular non-smart phone. She has what I call Chronic Feigned Helplessness. She's not stupid. She's manipulative. And she loves discourse. So "LMGTFY" happens a lot. I've even had to drop everything to go meet her to increase her screen brightness. At least now she's on telegram so she can message and say things like "woe is me, I don't know what time the bank closes," then I Google it for her. I'm slowly trying to introduce her to self-sufficiency but it's not easy.

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Agreeable-Apricot662@reddit

My dad had a computer in the early 80s. He is pretty tech savvy. But I do feel like he struggles more than he used to .

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Voodoocat-99@reddit

Heard

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foilrat@reddit

To an extent. My mom was a systems analyst, elbows deep in code and what not. She's very smart, very savvy. I give her a pass on the "little old lady card" when it comes to physical things. Not so much the mental. Proudest moment: She was having an issue with her mac. Instead of calling me, she asked "what would foilrat do?" And she entered her question into google, got the answer and solved her problem. I'm not going to ask her to worry about DNS settings or things like that, but more simple, smaller, she's doing great.

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HereticHousefly@reddit

My dad is not tech savvy at all - and his risk behaviour online is borderline getting in the van preemptively. My mom on the other hand, did several years of tech support at the company where they both worked 40+ years. She's hard as nails, but has trouble staying up to date - which I can kinda empathize with at this point. There's been a few episodes here and there, but largely it could be much worse. Automatically dreading the future.

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GrumpyCatStevens@reddit

My dad does next to nothing with technology. It was only a couple years ago that Mom finally convinced him to get his own cell phone. Mom has spent over half her life doing stuff on computers, but doesn't quite understand how they work. Not to mention she's fallen for scammers a couple times; in one instance they wiped her entire computer. I finally had to tell her that she needs to talk to tech support professionals for her computer issues, and not to trust anything that pops up on her screen purporting to be Microsoft.

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OldLadyReacts@reddit

Oh yeah, I still get the "I cut this out of the newspaper for you" sometimes. And don't even try to talk about any of the shows on streaming services. They just roll their eyes, like it's some sort of new-fangled technology. And then go on to complain about how many commercials are in the shows they watch on regular tv.

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Mission_Pirate2549@reddit

I used to be tech support for my parents when they were alive, now I'm somehow tech support for my daughters. The thing is, I'm not even that good with tech, I'm just willing to fuck about with it until it either starts working properly or stops working forever.

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LA-123456@reddit

Bit of perspective-think of how much the world has changed during their lifetimes and give some grace and patience. Be glad they are still with you. I empathize (I was tech support for my mom and aunt, frequently fielded calls at work on “how to fix my Kindle” or “how to fix something I accidentally hit on the very sensitive tv remote”. I’d give anything to talk to either of them again, even if just for tech support! Also, remember what goes around, comes around - someday that will be us!

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wild-hectare@reddit

fortunately, my mom was silent generation and never even embraced the cell phone before she passed away in 2020 that said...I have 7 siblings and their kids that all know I've been in IT for over 30yrs...so, I may have moved beyond end-user support decades ago but I still have family & friends to drag me back in. lucky for me the parents are calling their kids first, but I know what to expect when I get the random calls from nephews & nieces

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Spiritual-Computer73@reddit

My in laws have managed to lose their phone, forget their passwords for their Apple account to the point that one is irretrievable. My poor husband has to go over at least twice a week to ensure they get their emails read, phone messages from the doctors get read, etc. they bought a 2025 Mazda with all the extras and have no idea how to use all of the features.

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Any-Concentrate-1922@reddit

Just wait until you become the support for everything.

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Glittering-Eye2856@reddit

🤫I (former sysadmin) have to do all “at home” tech stuff for my IT engineer husband because he has the patience of a toddler.🤫 ![gif](giphy|s4T64Kx2p0fhm)

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u35828@reddit

Before going NC, I was the defacto support engineer. I used legacy enterprise grade gear to reduce service calls, which were then limited to desktop support. A Cisco 2621 and a 3550 were my go-to build back in the day. Now it's a Mikrotik CCR2004-16G-2S, a Ruckus ICX 7150-48P, and Aruba 515s.

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abczoomom@reddit

My dad is across the country and has always managed his own. We’re not like that anyway. My mom, on the other hand, is downstairs and exactly like that. Lucky me, my 24yo son handles her tech support (and occasionally mine if I hit something super sticky).

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wvgeekman@reddit

My Dad used to have things go wrong with his PC on a regular basis. He'd always ask me to see if I could figure it out and I always gave it a shot. One of those times, I discovered quite by accident while trying to fix an internet issue that my Dad was, in all likelihood, either gay or bi and had been closeted for his entire life. It was a shock, to say the least. I never brought it up to either him or my mom until the day they died. It was his life and his story to either tell or not tell. I'm just sorry that he felt the need to stay hidden. I did have long talks about it with my brother, though. I was glad I had someone to be able to absorb the shock a little.

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First-Ad-7960@reddit

My parents were complete luddites and did not even have internet in their house. After my mother died dad moved to assisted living with good wi-fi so I got him an iPad which he used a little bit but not much. I was getting ready to setup online access to all his accounts for me to manage them remotely when he died. So that estate was all paper based. My mother in law in her mid-80s has an iPhone and an iPad which generates a couple tech support calls to my wife per week. Her response to any technical hiccup is to just start randomly mashing buttons so when you try to untangle whatever settings she screwed up she cannot tell you what any of the messages said or what she clicked on. She is on the iPad about 16 hours a day randomly looking at stuff online including some weird fake news sites that are constantly feeding her scammy ads. Fortunately she is completely antisocial and would never dream of calling a "tech support" phone number since she might have to talk to someone. She expects my wife to make all her calls and arrangements.

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calculon68@reddit

My mom (80 RIP) never learned to type. So getting her on computer was a struggle. She could open her webmail, but was lost on a browser. And she couldn't do a smart phone either (can't text). Forget about social media. My dad was a little better because he liked to tinker, but he passed 20+ years ago, when the web was a simpler place. And smart TV/streaming stick stuff? Forget it. Just frustrated her. Was scared she was "buying" things, even logged in as me. And couldn't get the "on-demand" concept- always wanted to know where the viewing guide was. I'm sure in 20+ years when smellavision arrives we'll have the same problems. /s

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SignificantTransient@reddit

Mom doesn't even use a computer but she's fine on phones. Grandparents tho... I visited my grandparents for a family event, and grandma mentioned grandpas computer had stopped working a week ago. I tried to boot it and the case beeped twice or something at bios. Quick google says ram error. Cleaned the chips and bam, she runs Grandma thanked me profusely and said grandpa had been really grumpy about it.

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birthwarrior@reddit

I was fortunate - my dad was a computer programmer for the Air Force back when computers took up whole rooms and he progressed with the times. My first computer was a commodore 64 and my dad taught me basic coding when I was 10. Wish I had stayed with it! LOL Both he and my mom (civil service with the Army) had computer tech careers and up til they passed, everyone in our family would go to Dad for questions. Til my brother got into IT, anyway!

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fshannon3@reddit

I work in IT, but fortunately, my own parents don't call me for tech stuff. My dad was a network engineer and is very tech savvy himself, so he can figure stuff out for himself and my mom. I pretty much got my knowledge of all things computer-related from him. My in-laws do live with my wife and I, and given that they were farmers back in the day, they're just barely tech literate. My wife actually bought them their first computer about 15 years ago and they started using it for basic stuff; Facebook, eBay, Amazon. They can do those things fairly well but they wouldn't know how to get to some other website they'd want to get to. My wife or I will sometimes have to help them making an actual purchase on Amazon when they want to order something....they can search for it, but when it comes time to making the payment...that's apparently beyond their pay grade. A few months back, I upgraded that old computer a bit by adding some RAM (it only had 4 GB, running Windows 10) and gave it a good cleaning...for a while it sounded like a jet engine wanting to take off whenever they were playing Facebook games, so I opened it up and really cleaned it out. It was so full of dust. After that, it ran fine. But more recently, the power supply went out on it so I got a newer PC for them that would be able to run Windows 11 and loaded that up for them. They also still have trouble with just navigating the TV. They know what channels they usually watch...but can't/don't want to use the built-in Guide. And if they accidentally hit a button that pulls up a screen they're not familiar with, I get asked how to "fix" it...just have to press the back/exit button. I'm fine with helping out, but when it's the same thing over and over after I've told them how to fix the simple things ("Just press the back button"), that can be a bit much.

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thisTexanguy@reddit

I'm tech support for my parents and kids. Gen Z and older Alpha wouldn't know how to program the clock on a VCR with a manual and YouTube video/TikTok on how to do it.

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BeLikeEph43132@reddit

My FIL is exactly this. We live quite close by, so he calls at least every 6 weeks or so because "The TV remote isn't working" or "I can't get into my email" or "I clicked something and now x won't work." It drives us crazy AND we're grateful that we live close by because one day he'll call us for something much worse and we'll be able to be there in a couple of minutes. We love you, B.

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SeaworthinessUnlucky@reddit

“The computer is glitching. … I hate this thing.”

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NYCphilliesBlunt@reddit

I got my Mom an Amazon Echo Show. My favorite memory is her calling me and asking, “What’s her name again?”Eventually, I wrote her scripts to get it to do what she wanted. The biggest challenge was that her favorite shows were on a third party service and Amazon was always rerouting her to Amazon Prime.

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Pinchaser71@reddit

I used to be their tech support. I was a tech for 25 years. I’ve been out of it for about a decade, not in the one that’s lost. My kids help me now🤣

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Maleficent-Sport1970@reddit

I swear my sons were born with intrinsic knowledge of technology. They are the go to guys. My parents are in their 80s and are fairly tech savvy. When any of us need help...one of my sons is the phone guy and the other is the computer guy. I'm am the streaming expert with mom being a close second.

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Away_Bench7003@reddit

Me! It is exhausting whenever we go anywhere I spend 95% of the time on my phone trying to troubleshoot things or look things up. It’s so annoying. From making a reservation to figuring out why the ringer is off on the phone. My mother has friend requested people that are husbands of my friends that she’s never met before. She is like “I just pushed some buttons, I don’t know.”

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kenos99@reddit

I always took it on with a sense of humor. My dad would call me during the work day and I would try my best to imagine in my brain what he was seeing on his Windows Mail email window and try to help him undo whatever mistake he made so he could get his emails out. It was sometimes frustrating but mostly just a fun challenge. What I wouldn’t give to get that call from dad today.

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Entropy847@reddit

About 10 years ago we got my mom a cell phone. She calls from her home phone (!!) and says that the cell phone doesn’t work. I go over there and she says “I pick up the phone to make a call and there isn’t a dial tone “

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Purplish_Peenk@reddit

I lucked out as my Boomer Dad was actually IT. Grew up with computers that he built along with software licenses that were extra Business ones from wherever he worked. It wasn’t until he passed that I realized how expensive hardware/software was. HOWEVER Boomer Mother who divorced him when I was a kid is a total Luddite when it comes to tech so if I were talking to her that would never be an ask. She wants me to be her Therapist though.

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khuytf@reddit

My father kept buying printers because his old one “didn’t work”. I found boxes of them before I realized what was going on. Turns out, he didn’t realize you had to install them. 🤪

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FartomicBlast@reddit

For my in-laws now, but yes. They’re in their 70’s and it is a frustrating job that I don’t get paid for.

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fredout1968@reddit

They did teach you to eat and wipe your ass for a few years.. It' the least you can do...

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blooobolt@reddit

My dad's silent generation and he fares just fine on his devices. My mom has a question about attaching things to emails every once in a while, but she's not terrible at it. I do more yard work and honey-dos around the house than I do support their technology needs. 😂

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CallmeSlim11@reddit

Alas, I'm the one who needs tech support. I'm not in a position to criticize my parents, I turn on the computer and pray that it works. I'm a step above a Luddite.

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LuckyAd2714@reddit

Lmao. Yep. My sister is 13 years younger than me and teaches high school. She is super tech savvy … I always tell her I am somewhere between our mom and her. lol. I’m Ok at it but I should be better.

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lowfreq33@reddit

I won’t do it. Anytime I try to help my dad with his iPad, tv or whatever he just ends up getting mad. Throws a tantrum. So nope. I was trying to explain the Wendy’s app to him, that there are deals, and you earn points for free food, and I got yelled at. So I’m never helping again.

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kenjinyc@reddit

59 and I’m super tech savvy. My aunt however, is so anti-tech that she doesn’t do ANYTHING with the web and barely understands that when she watches Netflix it’s streaming technology. Less work for moi!

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loztriforce@reddit

I’ve worked in IT for decades so have been “that guy” for friends and family. What’s striking to me is that, at least in my limited experience, it seems like we went from those old people not knowing computers to more tech-savvy X’rs, but the younger people now seem almost as clueless as those old people. And it seems younger people have no patience whatsoever. They create problems for themselves when they don’t give things enough time. I get that we don’t have to sit and watch a loading screen when opening applications anymore, but still.

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BlueOrbifolia@reddit

I’m tech support now and warning my kid that she’s going to help me in the near future - and you shoulda seen the look of horror on her face! 😂

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5uck3rpunch@reddit

You are *very* lucky to still have them. I know it's a burden, but enjoy them while you can. I'm orphaned since I was 30 & wish mine were here to help them with anything I could.

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Bornwestofthemtns@reddit

My parents died when I was a teenager. I was tech support for my ex-in-laws but that dropped off after the divorce. I spend a lot of time being tech support at work (not part of my job description) to other GenXers and Boomers.

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Upstairs_Fudge_9982@reddit

Worked in IT for over 30 years, I luckily managed to talk my mother out of getting a laptop, she can just about use her phone and she has an old tablet of mine, but all she really does is make calls, text and doom scroll on facebook.

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Vanman04@reddit

I am tech support for a lot of people. I have been doing it for over 20 years. I have customers that started with me 20 years ago that are still as ignorant today when it comes to tech as the day they first hired me. They still call me for simple things like installing printers or setting up email. 20 years of using both and they haven't learned a thing in all that time. Some folks just don't get it and can't be bothered to learn. Love my customers but holy shit it's been 20 years have you learned nothing in all that time?

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fruvey@reddit

If I had a nickel for every time my father in law has clicked on or called the "virus support" number that popped up on his screen and gave his credit card info to, I might be able to reimburse him what he paid.

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Gold-Acanthisitta545@reddit

Why do they always say "it's broken" and it literally NEVER is? I passed my mom a brand spanking new Gateway desktop and she left it on and back then you had to shut it down when finished using it. Now days she's got an iPhone and on my brothers plan. She likes to send him links to buy her stuff on Amazon and she knows how to do that herself. I swear the just like to be coddled when it comes to tech. Mom retired nurse and you shoulda have seen the meltdowns when they switched the charting from manual to digital. Lord have Mercy.

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waters_run_deep@reddit

Tech support here for 90 year old parents. Turing off airplane mode seems to solve the majority of their iPhone issues 😂

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LastRedshirt@reddit

It is weird, because my fathers first computer was an Atari 800XL, which he bought (even in East Germany) in 1984, at the age of 30 years. And we (as kids) used it often. He had books about micro computers etc. But in the 90s, when we got our first PC, he kind of barely used it. He started to use it again, when he went online, probably in the mid 2000s. He uses the computer daily for Ebay and book-pages and his banking stuff. He does not use social media. He only plays Freecell and one or two connect-three-games. My mother went online in the late 2000s. She is online on social media for maybe 5-6 years now. Completely addicted. Both of them need my support. My father, because he only uses the browser or mail-program and 10 times a day a cleaning program. Everything else (updates etc) is for me to do (when I visit). My parents have very cheap phones, which are constantly full of pictures and videos. It is okay. They are old. But I hope, I know about computers and stuff in 20-40 years. Especially with the AI-slob out there.

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coolguymiles@reddit

I am very lucky. My father taught himself DOS back in the 80s. That attitude of experimentation, failure, and learning persists to this day. He only calls me when he has exhausted every avenue.

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blaquepapilion@reddit

Thankfully. My parents and in-laws have always been tech savvy. My mom is really a tech head

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redwoodtree@reddit

since about 1994

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LayerNo3634@reddit

My daughter is tech support for me.

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profcate@reddit

Yep! Started when I was a kid with the VCR and fixing the blinking time. It's very hard to explain streaming services to my parents and how to navigate around them.

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redbeard914@reddit

I had to go over anytime they wanted to record something

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BastaAlready@reddit

Absolutely I am...and my dad was the head of global IT for a major international brewing company.

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ryamanalinda@reddit

My mom died 1996 (56) and dad died 2001 (66). Of the tech that was out there, they were "fine". They learned what they wanted to learn for their needs with no issue. If they were alive today, I think it would have been the same. Surebthey might have asked someone for help, but would have also been capable of figuring it out, looking it up, etc The onky reason they woukd have asked for tech help from one of their kidd was to get interaction, not that they needed it. Like many of us. And again. They would have learned what they thought was important to them. Pretty much like me. Everything else, meh, I don't care.

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Careless_Ocelot_4485@reddit

My dad is in his late 80s and can get around OK on his phone, but he's never been able to navigate using a laptop. He knows how to do a lot of things like plumbing and electrical and can fix just about anything, but computers weren't ever a part of his world like they are for us.

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Former_Boysenberry45@reddit

I don't worry about this so much....my mother refuses to use any sort of technology whatsoever. She won't even text 🙄

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No-Group737@reddit

My siblings and I kicked in and bought our dad a kindle when they were new. He was an avid reader and we were trying to get him to pair down his enormous collection. My siblings live out of state and I was only 10 min away from dad so by default, I became kindle tech support. I went over and spent a day showing him how to use it and that he can also use it to listen to music or Google stuff. I wasn't home for 5 min. When he called. I picked up the phone. At first all I could hear was Tom Jones blaring. Then I hear dad "why the fuck is this damned thing so loud?! And how the hell do you make it stop playing "Delilah"?!" "Ya know what? Just come get this piece of shit, it's broken!" That was dad's kindle experience. Less than 30 min solo and it's deemed worthless.

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natedogjulian@reddit

Nope. My 76yr old is way more tech savvy than me

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