"Successful Aging" Conference
29 october 2025
During the "Successful Aging" conference organized by the SeniorApp Foundation, the results of the 5th edition of the report "Assessment of Support Needs for Seniors in Poland" were presented. One of the report's research modules was dedicated to digitalization.
· 82% of respondents over 55 confirmed that they use the internet.
· The vast majority use smartphones for this purpose.
Interestingly, as many as 58% of respondents feel confident when using the internet, while 26.5% indicated "difficult to say." Such results raise many questions regarding awareness of cyber threats, disinformation, and the consequences of risky online behavior.
The challenges associated with using new technologies were discussed in a panel debate featuring Milena Górecka from the UKE Consumer Policy Department, Radosław Maćkiewicz – Director General of the Central Information Technology Centre (COI), Piotr Czubaty – President of the "Sieci" Foundation, Olaf Krynicki – Press Spokesperson for Samsung Polska, and a representative of the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime (CBZC).
"Currently, the main problem is no longer the lack of internet access, but rather how seniors use it and whether they do so responsibly. Seniors are increasingly becoming victims of cybercrime because they have savings, yet they are unaware of the manipulation techniques used by criminals. Another issue is the disinformation that is flooding the internet. Both younger and older users have trouble filtering information, and in the age of artificial intelligence, critical thinking and the ability to verify the credibility of sources are crucial. That is why education and raising digital competencies are so important, so that older people can benefit from new technologies while maintaining prudence and adhering to safety rules," said Milena Górecka.
The conference also included debates on social life, quality of life, and health. Participants in these panels included Marek Rabij, editor of Tygodnik Powszechny, Roksana Góral from the Saint Nicholas Foundation for Seniors, Łukasz Salwarowski, President of the MANKO Association - Senior Voice, and Dr. Elżbieta Ostrowska – Chairperson of the Main Board of the Polish Association of Pensioners, Annuitants, and Disabled Persons.
