For years, the goal of digital inclusion has been straightforward: make sure people can get online. That means having affordable high-speed internet, a device that can do more than make a phone call, and the digital skills to use it. But as more of our lives move online, another question has become just as important: once people are connected, do they know how to stay safe?
Someone can have broadband, a smartphone or computer, an email account, online banking, a patient portal and social media accounts and still be vulnerable to the risks that come with being online. They may be digitally included, but not digitally safe.
The growing cost of being connected
The scale of online fraud makes this increasingly difficult to ignore, particularly for older adults. In 2025, people aged 60 and older filed more than 201,000 complaints with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, reporting $7.7 billion in losses. That was a 37% increase in complaints and a 59% increase in reported losses compared with 2024. The average reported loss was $38,500, and more than 12,400 people reported losing at least $100,000.
These numbers represent only the fraud that gets reported. Many people never report being scammed because they are embarrassed, don’t know where to turn, don’t realize they have been defrauded, or don’t want others to know what happened. The true scale of the problem is therefore likely to be considerably larger.
Phishing and spoofing were the most commonly reported types of internet crime among older adults in 2025, with more than 48,000 complaints. Investment scams caused the greatest financial losses, while cryptocurrency-related schemes alone resulted in $4.3 billion in reported losses among older victims.
And this isn’t simply a problem affecting people who rarely use technology. In fact, the people most at risk may be those who are using technology regularly but haven’t developed the skills to recognize increasingly sophisticated threats.
Being connected doesn’t mean being confident
A 2026 AARP survey of more than 1,000 U.S. adults aged 50 and older illustrates this gap. Most older adults feel confident doing everyday online activities: 93% feel confident finding health information online and 91% feel confident using online banking. But confidence drops when the task involves recognizing risk. Only 81% feel confident identifying online scams or fraud.
The gap becomes even larger with age. Among adults 65 and older, just 74% feel confident identifying online scams, compared with 88% of adults 50 to 64.
This distinction matters. A person may be perfectly capable of using online banking but still have difficulty determining whether a text message claiming to be from their bank is legitimate. Someone may be able to use a patient portal but not recognize a fraudulent message asking them to click a link to resolve an insurance problem. Someone may regularly communicate with family through text messages but have difficulty recognizing when a message supposedly from a family member is actually a scammer using a stolen account or AI-generated voice.
Digital participation and digital safety are related, but they aren’t the same thing.
Fraud isn’t just a financial problem
The consequences of fraud go far beyond losing money. A recent systematic review of 21 studies found that fraud victimization was associated with anxiety, depression, psychological distress, shame, self-blame, erosion of trust and reduced quality of life. The psychological effects often continue even after the financial loss has been resolved.
That makes online safety more than a cybersecurity issue. It is also a health and well-being issue.
Consider what happens after someone realizes they have been scammed. An older adult who receives a convincing message about a problem with their bank account may follow a link, speak with someone who sounds professional and eventually transfer thousands of dollars to what they believe is a secure account. The financial loss can be devastating, but the emotional consequences may last much longer. They may become afraid to use online banking, stop answering unfamiliar calls, lose confidence in their ability to make decisions or worry that they will be targeted again.
Someone who was working hard to become more connected can end up feeling less connected than before.
Digital literacy can be part of the solution
The good news is that digital safety is a skill that can be taught. Research increasingly shows a relationship between digital literacy and vulnerability to fraud, with stronger digital literacy associated with lower vulnerability to online fraud. Research involving older adults has also found connections between financial knowledge, numeracy, and lower susceptibility to scams.
More importantly, there is growing evidence that education can change behavior. Studies of cybersecurity training for older adults have found improvements in knowledge about digital threats, awareness of risks, confidence and everyday cybersecurity behaviors. Research on anti-fraud education has similarly found that targeted education can improve people’s understanding of scams and their intentions to engage in safer behaviors.
This is an important shift in how we think about older adults and technology. We should not assume that older adults are inherently vulnerable to technology, nor should the answer be to tell people to avoid the internet. Instead, we can help people develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to navigate technology safely.
Expanding what we mean by digital skills
Digital inclusion has traditionally focused on three essential pieces: internet access, a device and the skills to use that technology. That definition is still important, but the skills component needs to encompass much more than learning how to send an email, join a video call or search Google.
Being digitally capable also means knowing how to recognize a suspicious text or email, identify a fraudulent website, protect personal and financial information, use strong passwords and multifactor authentication, and recognize when someone is impersonating a bank, government agency, business, or family member. It means knowing how to evaluate health information found online and understanding what information an app or website is asking you to share.
Perhaps most importantly, people need the confidence to pause when something doesn’t feel right. Scammers are experts at creating urgency: your account will be closed, your computer has a virus, your grandchild is in trouble, your package can’t be delivered, or you need to act immediately to protect your money. Digital safety means having enough knowledge and confidence to recognize that urgency as a warning sign rather than a reason to act.
It also means knowing what to do next. Sometimes the safest response is to close the message and contact the organization using a phone number or website you know is legitimate. Sometimes it means asking a trusted person for help. And sometimes it simply means recognizing that it is okay not to know the answer immediately.
From digital inclusion to digital well-being
This is why the next chapter of digital inclusion cannot be only about getting people online. It has to be about helping people thrive once they’re there.
We want older adults to use online banking without fear, access telehealth without being tricked, communicate with family without worrying about scams, and search for health information without distrusting what they find. We want technology to support greater independence and connection, not become another source of anxiety.
Digital inclusion has always been about more than technology. It is about people’s ability to participate fully in their communities and access the opportunities and services they need. As more of those opportunities and services move online, being able to navigate that environment safely becomes part of what it means to be digitally included.
Being digitally included means having the access and skills to participate in an increasingly digital world. Being digitally safe means having the knowledge, confidence and habits to protect yourself while doing it.
We need both.
Because the goal of digital inclusion isn’t simply to get people connected. It’s to help people connect, learn and thrive — safely.
Help your community stay safe online
If you work with older adults, people with disabilities, low-income communities or others who may be vulnerable to online scams, you can help make digital safety part of the digital inclusion work you are already doing.
digitalLIFT offers a free Internet Safety Train-the-Trainer course and curriculum that organizations can use to teach people how to recognize common online threats and develop safer digital habits. The materials are designed to help community-based organizations and the people they serve build practical skills and confidence for navigating the internet safely.
Utilize digitalLIFT’s free Internet Safety Train-the-Trainer course and curriculum to bring digital safety education to your community!
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