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Cybersecurity for Seniors: Protecting our Elderly

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All of my blogs are on the Not Cyber Terrorists padlet. There are too many padlets to keep track of so I put the blogs there since I was confused.

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A Framework for Protecting Teenagers from Cyber Crimes and Cyberbullying

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Social applications consist of powerful tools that allow people to connect and interact with each other. However, its negative use cannot be ignored. Cyberbullying is a new and serious Internet problem. Cyberbullying is one of the most common risks for teenagers to go online. More than half of young people report that they do not tell their parents when this will occur, this can have significant physiological consequences. Cyberbullying involves the deliberate use of digital media on the Internet to convey false or embarrassing information about others. Therefore, this article provides a way to detect cyber-bullying in social media applications for parents. The purpose of our work is to develop an architectural model for identifying and measuring the state of Cyberbullying faced by children on social media applications. For parents, this will be a good tool for monitoring their children without invading their privacy. Finally, some interesting open-ended questions were raised, suggesting promising ideas for starting new research in this new field.

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Log in to HeinOnline, a premier research platform providing access to thousands of journals, government documents, international resources, and much more.

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Protecting Children in the Digital Age: Addressing Cyber-Oriented Abuse

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Introduction In today’s digital age, the internet offers children remarkable opportunities for education, socialization, and personal growth. However, alongside these benefits come substantial risks.

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Will Lawmakers Really Act to Protect Children Online? Some Say Yes.

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After senators grilled the leaders of Meta, TikTok, X and others, there may be momentum to pass rules to safeguard the internet’s youngest users, some said.

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"Children and the Risks of the Internet" #3

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With online access virtually ubiquitous on computers, smart phones, tablets, and other mobile devices, almost all children under 12 are now internet users. As these children spend more and more time online-a trend that has only accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic began-the cyber risks they face, such as online bullying, inappropriate content, and digital addiction, are worsening.

Efforts to respond with increased awareness and protective measures are growing, but they are not nearly enough. Child protection in cyberspace is an urgent issue that needs immediate attention and more targeted responses than we have seen to date.

Given the gravity of this problem, BCG set out to examine children's online vulnerability in different regions. We wanted to know where and why protection is lacking or breaking down, the factors influencing the global response to the problem, and which solutions might be appropriate. To answer these questions, BCG did a thorough review of the existing research on cyber threats to children, amplifying it with a global survey of 41,000 parents and children. (See "About the Survey.")

Our research found that:

Online threats are endemic, and they affect a substantial number of children. What's more, several intractable trends will likely exacerbate the problem in the near future.

Most of the programs dealing with cyber threats focus on one aspect of the overall issue-for instance, online sexual abuse. Coordination among these programs must be improved across regions and governments to reduce duplication of efforts and improve results.

There is a bright side, though. Based on our survey data, a broader picture of the extent of cyberspace dangers for children is coming into view-and a blueprint for making the online realm a safer place for children is starting to emerge.

A Broad Range of Threats

As many as 93% of children from ages 8 to 17 are on the internet, our survey results indicate. Remarkably, nearly three out of four respondents said they had experienced at least one cyber threat. (See Exhibit 1.)

Despite the frequency of such threats, most incidents aren't being reported. Only about 40% of parents said their children had expressed concerns about inappropriate content they had encountered online. At the same time, more than 80% of children said they would go to their parents for help in those circumstances. This suggests there may be certain barriers-such as being uncertain about what an online threat is, or possibly a fear of speaking out-keeping children from reporting cyber threats.

So what, exactly, constitutes a threat? Today, discussions of child safety online-and programs that attempt to address the issue-tend to be heavily skewed toward the dangers of online child sexual abuse and (to a lesser extent) on cyber bullying. The risks children face online go well beyond these significant areas, however.

A widely accepted categorization of those risks-and one we feel is sufficiently comprehensive-was advanced by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and then adopted at various stages by UNICEF and many other organizations. This framework views the issue through four categories:

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Content, including exposure to illegal and age-inappropriate content, embedded marketing, and online gambling.

Contact, including ideological persuasion; exploitation (sexual abuse and trafficking, harassment, and drug addiction); and violation and misuse of personal data.

Conduct, including cyberbullying and the effect on children of excessive screen time and owning digital devices.

Consumer, including marketing, commercial profiling, financial, and security risks.

Besides the obvious dangers inherent in each of the "four C's" above, there are risks such as privacy intrusions that span all categories. Regardless of how one classifies the risks, they can have a dramatic impact on children's health and well-being. In the mental health arena, victims of cyber bullying are up to 160% more likely to attempt suicide, according to the DQ Institute. And studies have linked excessive screen time to delinquency, low grades, risky behaviors, depression, and anxiety.

Physical outcomes for children with overly active cyber lives are problematic as well. Too much time on the computer can lead to higher body-mass scores and obesity, the inability to meet basic fitness guidelines, and even chronic conditions such as poor back-muscle endurance.

These problems will only worsen if we don't take immediate steps to manage online risks. Children's potential exposure to cyber threats is rapidly increasing; during the pandemic, the internet has become one of the primary channels for daily education, with two-thirds of children surveyed saying they use their schools' online platforms daily. Additionally, emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things or cloud-based and network-connected devices-including wearables, household appliances, toys, and robots-will likely lead to a new set of threats. These items are essentially always online, and they increase the potential for children to be exposed to cyber risks, including the abuse of private data such as location and usage patterns.

What the Data Tells Us

As we delved into the existing research, we felt it was important to validate and expand upon our findings with global data that could provide a clearer picture of children's online behaviors. We also wanted to understand the scope and frequency of specific online threats and how children and their parents have reacted to them. Gathering such data is an essential foundation for designing coherent and broad-based solutions that are informed by actual online behaviors. Additionally, it allows us to develop strategies that target specific online dangers faced by children and the role that ecosystem participants can play in minimizing these threats.

The anecdotal evidence and existing research that needed to be quantified included global data on children's online activity; children's awareness and behavior towards online threats; children's experiences with threats; parental responses to these threats, particularly when alerted by children; and how online usage and threats differed in developed and developing countries. To collect this data, we surveyed some 41,000 children and their parents. Our survey followed the OECD's revised typology of online threats-content, contact, conduct, and consumer-and the questions focused on specific areas of vulnerability within these categories. Here's what we learned.

Online Behavior and Fears. While the top-line data points about children's online activities and the threats they face are troubling in themselves, a deeper examination of the survey responses reveals a problem with many nuances and pain points that need to be addressed directly.

For example, while it's eye-opening enough to consider that almost every child anywhere in the world is on the internet by age 12, the potential risks are magnified by the fact that 81% of children go online daily-with almost 45% of them more than three hours per day. (See Exhibit 2.) Perhaps most concerning: when not doing schoolwork, children's online time primarily revolves around activities where threats could most likely fester. These include watching videos, movies, or streaming television, gaming, and social media. Beyond these threats, frequent online engagement is negatively affecting children's physical conditions and mental health.

With most children accessing the internet daily, we want them to feel unthreatened when navigating cyberspace and to be aware of how to avoid and respond to cyber risks. However, only half of the children we surveyed feel safe while online. (See Exhibit 3.) That shouldn't be surprising, given that 72% of children surveyed have experienced at least one online threat. The most prevalent cyber threats were unwanted ads and inappropriate images and content. In addition, nearly one in five children said they faced bullying or unwanted sexual approaches.

How Parents Respond-or Fail To. Given the serious nature of cyber threats and the high number of children who have experienced unsafe activities online, the fact that only about 40% of parents said that their children have told them about these types of incidents is disturbing. But perhaps even more troubling is that when parents become aware of their children receiving or coming across unwanted, unpleasant, and malicious content, measures taken are often reactive and are skewed toward deleting content (56%) rather than reporting it to the police (41%) or informing schools (34%). Without a higher degree of transparency about the number of threats and their nature, ecosystem participants will be unable to respond adequately and develop enhanced preventive measures to keep children safe online.

Of course, parents are a critical frontline element in protecting children online-and in this regard they appear to be more vigilant about setting rules concerning amount of time spent on the internet than in actually monitoring their children's online activities. About three-quarters of the children said that their parents have placed limits on their internet usage. But only 60% of parents said they regularly check how their children are using their connected devices, with "regularly" defined as once a week or after every use. Indeed, 20% of parents said that they track activity once a year at most. And while virtually all parents responded that they are familiar with control mechanisms that can impede their children from engaging in specific types of potentially risky activities online, only about half said that they actually use these parental tools.

The Regional Divide. The primary reason for our research into online threats was to fill in data gaps pertaining to children's online activities and the threats they face globally. However, our survey has also revealed regional and even country-level nuances that should be considered when implementing solutions. For instance, 70% of children in Latin America are already online by the time they are eight years old; 65% of children in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are online by that age. That compares to only 50% in Asia-Pacific and 48% in Europe. Not surprisingly, children in Latin America and MENA have also suffered the greatest number of cyber threats. As many as four out of five children online in Latin America say they have been victims of at least one incident.

It is perhaps some consolation that the highest degree of parental monitoring occurs in MENA, where the number of cyber threats is elevated. In that region, 65% of parents regularly monitor the online life of their children, and more than 50% of children and parents routinely discuss internet usage and activities. By contrast, parental monitoring is lowest in Asia-Pacific, where only 46% of parents said they regularly examine how their children are using the internet. This figure is troubling, because only 35% of children in Asia-Pacific said that they and their parents talk openly and regularly about what they do online. Also, only one-third of parents said they would report cyber threats to the police. In Europe and Latin America, that number rises to about 50% of parents. (See Exhibit 4.)

All of this paints a picture of a cyberspace environment in which dangers to children are prevalent. But parents and children are somewhat at sea about how to communicate with each other and with authorities-and how to respond to threats. Moreover, on the whole, schools are not meeting the challenge of equipping children with the tools and skills they need to navigate and address cyber risks. Less than 60% of children said their schools provide workshops and other programs related to online safety. Similarly, national awareness campaigns targeting children are also lacking, with only around half of the children surveyed saying they have seen campaigns on TV or billboards in their country.

Current Initiatives Are Making Progress-but Gaps Remain

As part of an effort to generate an overall strategy for dealing with these issues, we also conducted an extensive assessment of the more than 60 organizations focused on protecting children in cyberspace. We reviewed key global efforts across all aspects of society, the research and data they have produced, and the leading global events and conferences they have sponsored.

We found a lot of strong, engaged, and energetic initiatives that are contributing to making cyberspace safer for children and to better supporting those who have been threatened online. Among the initiatives:

UNICEF's efforts include two multipartner projects, Global Kids Online and Disrupting Harm, which assess the risks of child abuse online and potential measures to combat it.

The International Telecommunication Union, a U.N. organization, launched the Child Online Protection initiative in 2008. The initiative, a multistakeholder effort within the Global Cybersecurity Agenda framework, brings together international partners from all sectors of the child protection ecosystem to create a safe and empowering online experience for children around the world.

WeProtect Global Alliance (WPGA) is an independent international institution focused on ending child sexual abuse online. It drives action through its Global Threat Assessment and national and global response frameworks, amplifying the voices of children and survivors of abuse and supporting collaboration. WeProtect was founded in 2016; its membership includes 99 countries, several major international organizations, 59 private sector companies, and 77 civil society organizations. Alliance members will meet to renew their commitment to tackle child sexual abuse online at the annual WPGA summit in 2022.

DQ Institute, a think tank headquartered in Singapore, is committed to setting global standards for digital skills and safety. As of 2020, the organization's #DQEveryChild campaign, a global digital citizenship movement for children, had reached more than 80 countries in collaboration with more than 100 partner organizations. The Institute has also established a child online safety index covering 30 countries worldwide and has developed a global standard for digital literacy, digital skills, and digital readiness.

OECD, an intergovernmental organization with over 35 member states, developed the "four C's" framework for classifying online risks and a recommendation for the protection of children online-the latter of which was adopted by the G20 within a regulatory agreement to facilitate the exchange of data.

While these organizations and many others are doing valuable work, our research indicates that there are still crucial gaps that must be addressed in order to tackle child protection in cyberspace holistically and comprehensively. One such gap is the lack of available standardized data. Surveys conducted by these groups have tended to include small regional subsets of children's activity online or to examine only thin slices of the significant threats children face overall. In addition, these surveys often cover different age groups-for instance, one may look at 8- to 12-year-olds, another at 15- to 24-year-olds-making it difficult to tease out which children are most at risk or to compare results.

There are a variety of reasons for the somewhat limited efficacy of organizations attempting to address the problem of child protection online. For one thing, many of them are siloed nonprofits and struggle to gain the needed funding and build the necessary broad-based ecosystems to aggressively tackle this issue-a shortcoming that could be addressed by more international cooperation as well as more active and committed private sector engagement, particularly from tech giants such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Apple as well as gaming companies. In addition, online child protection efforts are more advanced in higher-income countries, while many of the worst threats exist in less-wealthy regions, where a greater number of kids tend to be online from a younger age. And the focus of these efforts-and of the investments they require-tend to support reactive measures as opposed to prevention initiatives.

For global organizations to be fully effective in addressing the problem, they must adopt collaboration strategies that more openly foster ongoing global dialogue on cyber threats, joining with each other to strengthen and expand their activities and reduce duplicative efforts. The standardization of data and metrics is essential, as is transparency and sharing; this will allow organizations to better measure results and progress as well as to implement new online safety protocols and policies. Among other things, our primary research has identified a clear need to increase national and international awareness campaigns that offer children information and advice about both reacting to and preventing cyber threats.

How Stakeholders Can Help Protect Children Online

The activities of international organizations can play a crucial role in making children safe in cyberspace, certainly. But any effort to address the problem will fall short without engaging all the participants in the online ecosystem. Aside from international organizations-which should play a plenary role anchoring global research and cooperation-these participants include the private sector, especially tech and gaming companies; children's support services and NGOs focused on online safety; law enforcement and the judicial system; parents and caregivers; schools and education systems; and, at the center of the ecosystem, children themselves. (See Exhibit 5.)

Based on our extensive research-including our survey and an analysis of existing initiatives and gaps across the child protection ecosystem-BCG has come up with a series of recommendations for each of these central players that could serve as a starting point for a comprehensive, global strategy.

Tech Companies and the Private Sector. We have seen some recent movement from global tech companies, such as TikTok for Younger Users-a program that provides children under 13 with additional privacy and safety features while using the service, including restrictions on commenting and posting content. However, there is still an urgent need for tech giants-whose hardware and software are the entry points for children online-to increase their efforts to protect children. Tech companies should collaborate more, set industry standards, and develop innovative solutions to tackle risks. Safety mechanisms should be built into products and services that kids are most likely to use; in addition, the private sector should develop systems to monitor and publicly report on cyber threats and incidents-providing increased transparency on the extent and types of problems children face and, in the process, allowing for more targeted solutions.

Law Enforcement and Judicial Systems. Cyberspace threats are buoyed by fast-paced tech innovations that are implemented more rapidly than the laws and regulations meant to police them. The situation is aggravated by the fact that cyberthreats to children cut across borders-and there is only limited international law enforcement cooperation on these matters. Moreover, protecting children online is typically less prioritized as a national issue in developing countries, whether due to a lack of resources and funding or because other problems are considered more urgent.

Existing law enforcement frameworks must be expanded and adopted at national levels, and they should be continually updated to recommend best practices and new technologies for policing and prosecuting online threats to children. New national legal frameworks should be developed where none yet exist; small communities cannot tackle the problem alone without national funding, technical support, and response teams. In addition, national law enforcement authorities should seek international cooperation to better prevent and respond to cyber threats, which are more likely to be cross-border incidents than local activities.

Child Support Services. Only a few countries, such as the UK, US, and Australia, have mature systems in place to train and educate child support staffs in best practices for protecting children online. In many countries, barriers-including lack of knowledge about what support is available and stigmas that dissuade parents and children from even discussing the issue-stand in the way of providing services that could help in dealing with online threats.

The first imperative for child support services is to upskill their staffs, educating them about the online threats children face and how to police them. Next, these agencies must increase the awareness of the issue in their communities and let children and parents know what support is available to address, monitor, and report cyber threats. As our survey showed, children do not tell their parents often enough about cyber threats they have encountered-so support services should also work to proactively overcome any hesitance for children to talk freely about such incidents.

Schools and Education Systems. Some countries have adapted education programs and curricula to cover digital skills and competencies. But even these programs fail to provide tangible training in, and solutions to, online risks-what they are, where they exist, how to react to them, and how to avoid them. Moreover, education systems are not working with parents to keep them informed and up to date on the latest threats.

Online safety modules should be incorporated into K-12 curricula in all countries; parental information sessions should also be offered by schools, and awareness campaigns focused on cyber threats should be ubiquitous. Equally important, schools should offer digital literacy courses to ensure educators are up to date with the latest technological developments and cyber-risk dynamics.

Parents and Caregivers. Parents have insufficient awareness of the threats faced by children online. And most parents lack the knowledge, training, and skills with regards to the best methods and tools for protecting kids. Like law enforcement, parents are having a difficult time keeping up with advances in technology. And in many cases, parents are hesitant to bring up and openly discuss sensitive topics with their children.

With all of this in mind, educating parents on these issues is crucial. Survey results clearly indicated that parents do not monitor the online activities of their children closely enough, nor do they report incidents to authorities often enough. Materials and training sessions are essential to teach parents about new technology and platforms their kids are accessing; about online control mechanisms and the latest hardware and software features for protecting young internet users; and how to communicate better with their children about online behavior and threats. The parents we surveyed expressed interest in receiving such information and guidance from websites (54% of respondents), their children's schools (49%), and internet service providers (44%).

Child protection in cyberspace may not have gotten the full attention it deserves in the past few years. But the relentless and insidious increase in the types of threats children face-and in the number of incidents that have occurred-makes confronting the issue an imperative. BCG's in-depth survey of children and parents and our analysis of the online-safety ecosystem have attempted to crystallize the scope of the problem and what is being done to address it. Out of this we have synthesized an immediate action plan, including:

Increased efforts to make the public aware of the magnitude of the problem and what they can do about it. Tech giants bear a particular responsibility to educate their users about cyber threats to children and the safety features available to them.

More stringent rules and more rigorous policing of potentially dangerous online activities.

New technologies to monitor and protect children.

Better communication about the issue and its implications among parents, children, educational systems, and international organizations.

More robust efforts by technology companies and social media platforms to protect children using their products and services, including the ongoing development of new safety features.

It may seem like a lot to take on-and, in fact, it is. But the repercussions of not taking cyber threats against children seriously enough or failing to face those threats effectively-measured by the toll on children's safety, quality of life, development, and health-would be harder still to accept.

Theo Breward

Project Leader

Dubai

Ms. Alaa M. AlFaadhel

Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF)

Ms. Basma H. AlShaalan

Global Cybersecurity Forum (GCF)

About Boston Consulting Group

Boston Consulting Group partners with leaders in business and society to tackle their most important challenges and capture their greatest opportunities. BCG was the pioneer in business strategy when it was founded in 1963. Today, we work closely with clients to embrace a transformational approach aimed at benefiting all stakeholders-empowering organizations to grow, build sustainable competitive advantage, and drive positive societal impact.

Our diverse, global teams bring deep industry and functional expertise and a range of perspectives that question the status quo and spark change. BCG delivers solutions through leading-edge management consulting, technology and design, and corporate and digital ventures. We work in a uniquely collaborative model across the firm and throughout all levels of the client organization, fueled by the goal of helping our clients thrive and enabling them to make the world a better place.

© Boston Consulting Group 2022. All rights reserved.

For information or permission to reprint, please contact BCG at permissions@bcg.com. To find the latest BCG content and register to receive e-alerts on this topic or others, please visit bcg.com. Follow Boston Consulting Group on Facebook and Twitter.

Featured Content

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With online access virtually ubiquitous on computers, smart phones, tablets, and other mobile devices, almost all children under 12 are now internet users. As these children spend more and more time online-a trend that has only accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic began-the cyber risks they face, such as online bullying, inappropriate content, and digital addiction, are worsening.

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"Children and the Risks of the Internet" #4

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"Children and the Risks of the Internet" #4

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The internet is full of learning opportunities and entertainment for our kids, but the web is replete with daunting challenges for parents, teachers, governments, and the rest of society.

During Data Privacy Week 2024, the NCA Executive Director spoke to Kalinda Raina of LinkedIn about safeguarding the privacy of minors and how parents, teachers, and the rest of society can come together to protect the privacy of the next generation.

Watch the recording above for a deep dive into the topic.

Why do we care so much about the next generation's privacy? The NCA is a nonprofit, and we're on a mission to create a more secure, interconnected world for this generation and the next. We advocate for the safe use of all technology and educate everyone on how best to protect ourselves, our families, and our organizations from cybercrime. We have hundreds of free resources available to the public, along with plenty of articles for kids!

Our society is responsible for ensuring our children can navigate the digital landscape safely without collecting their data before they are old enough to apply for a credit card. We can set them up for success in our connected world and raise them to be responsible digital citizens who will shape the future.

Kids' Data Privacy Statistics

In 2022, some 1.7 million children fell victim to a data breach, meaning 1 in every 43 kids had personal information exposed or compromised, according to a survey by Javelin Strategy and Research.

Almost 90% of Americans told Pew they were concerned about social media platforms having the personal information of children. Most of us think parents hold the primary responsibility for their kids' online safety, but about 60% say tech companies are also partially responsible, and almost half think the government shares a responsibility as well. Like other aspects of cybersecurity, everyone in society has a role to play.

How Can We Move Forward?

What can we all do to protect our kids' data? One key thing is staying positively engaged. If you're a parent, get in there with your kids, surf the web together, show interest in their online communities, and when they come across a game, website, or platform asking for their data, turn it into a learning moment. It's all about trust and open communication.

Supporting good choices is crucial. Give your kids a bit more online freedom as they prove they can handle it responsibly. And let's not forget about cybersecurity - keep those computers protected with the latest software updates, because, let's face it, the online world is like a constantly changing game.

Review privacy settings together. Make it a family decision. Teach your kids to think critically about what they see online, and remind them that what goes on the internet can stick around forever.

A Goal for Society

Protecting children's data privacy is a collective imperative. By reaching for this goal, we work to safeguard our kid's innocence, foster digital citizenship, and cultivate a future generation capable of responsible online engagement. We can work together to build a society where trust, integrity, and ethical behavior prevail.

By shielding children from potential harm, we fortify the foundation of a safer internet for all. By prioritizing kid's privacy, we champion a shared commitment to nurturing a culture where every child can explore, learn, and connect online without compromise.

When we have a goal to protect children's data privacy, we make an investment in a better, more responsible digital society for everyone. By reading this, you show that you share that goal, and we're ecstatic to see how much you all care. Let's get to work!

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Protecting Our Kids' Data Privacy is Paramount - National Cybersecurity Alliance

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The internet is full of opportunities and entertainment for our kids, but the web comes with challenges for parents, teachers, and society.

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"According to the FBI, crypto-related fraud reached an all-time high of a little over $9.3 billion in 2024, a 66% increase from the previous year's $5.6 billion."

and

"While the data is concerning across all demographics, the impact on older Americans stands out in the data.

Of the total crypto fraud losses, nearly $2.8 billion—or 30%—came from individuals over 60, despite the age group representing only about 17% of the U.S. population."

(Dioquino, 2025)

Noted in this article is that crypto cybercrime and other financial related cybercrimes are both on the rise in general and targeting seniors more than ever. This could be due to a number of factors but overall stems from the elderly being an easier population to target and scam since they are less accustomed to the online world and may not have as many protections. The FBI has an initiative called "operation level up" that identifies and prevents crypto fraud. Initiatives such as this are vital for protecting vulnerable populations.

Dioquino, V. (2025, April 23). Elderly Americans hit hardest by $9.3B crypto scam wave in 2024: FBI. Decrypt. https://decrypt.co/316090/elderly-americans-hit-hardest-by-9-3b-crypto-scam-wave-in-2024-fbi

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Elderly Americans Hit Hardest by $9.3B Crypto Scam Wave in 2024: FBI - Decrypt

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America's seniors lost nearly $3 billion to crypto fraud despite representing just 17% of the population, with ATM scams now a rising trend.

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This graphic comes from the annual FBI cybercrime report. It shows that cybercrimes increased, the costs of cybercrimes increased, and the most vulnerable population are the elderly. The elderly population have been problem to be the most attacked and have the most financial losses. This is why protecting vulnerable populations like seniors is important.

Yarbrough , B. C. (2025). Annual reports - internet crime complaint center (IC3). IC3 Reports. https://www.ic3.gov/AnnualReport/Reports/2024_IC3Report.pdf

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In this research, 33 interviews were conducted with elderly individuals who had experienced cybercrime. There were four major themes found in these interviews: shame and fear of repercussion, reporting as unhelpful to emotional and financial recovery, lack of knowledge of scams and support sources, and social support making a difference.

It includes quotes and parts of the interviews with the elderly individuals which provides a direct look into personal experiences. It also looks into ageism which is the concept of discrimination or stereotyping based on age. This reflects in cybercrime vulnerability because criminals are more likely to target the elderly since they are perceived to be less tech savvy or have less online protections. This also reflects in the tech world and overall online society since most online applications and uses aren't necessarily easy for the elderly to use or learn without help. However, if communities or tech companies can create new-user friendly applications or tutorials/classes this can ease the transition into the online world.

Havers, B., Tripathi, K., Burton, A., Martin, W., & Cooper, C. (2024a). Exploring the factors preventing older adults from reporting cybercrime and seeking help: A qualitative, semistructured interview study. Health and Social Care in the Community, 2024(1). https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/1314265

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Intro - Samantha

Children - Milagro

Teenagers - Izabela

Elderly - Samantha

Laws/Programs - Cara

Conclusion - Milagro