This post was originally published on Afro
By Dr. Charles K. Dodson Jr.
As the new year kicks into high gear, 18-year-old Colby Gibson reminds us of just how vital this exchange is to the civilization of society and the evolution of humankind. The Old Dominion University freshman communications major has been working with senior citizens at her Washington, D.C. church, New Hope Freewill Baptist, since the dawn of the pandemic by teaching them how to successfully navigate and use the Zoom application to attend church services.
Gibson’s efforts were later propelled by a project geared towards procuring the Girl Scout Gold Award, a highly coveted award which can provide recipients with scholarships, preferred admission status at key universities and increased military ranks, during her tenure as a scout with the Girl Scouts of Central Maryland.
Gibson’s grassroots approach to increasing digital literacy among older adults, shined light on some areas of concern regarding protections against identity theft, money scams, and hacking.
Gibson, 18, diligently sought to decrease senior citizens’ susceptibility to online scams by increasing the subgroup’s awareness and ability to adequately utilize the internet, as well as employ safeguards against potentially fraudulent activity.
In 2021, the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging published a report entitled: “Top 5 Scams Targeting Our Nation’s Seniors Since 2015.”