Page 5 | Can someone in their 50s exist with no internet?

Bad80sPerm · 2025-02-20T21:49:10+00:00

This. I don’t have home broadband so no laptop. i could go to having just TV/Radio etc as my entertainment Would you find if difficult?

Nothatgingerpirate · 21/02/2025 06:37

I would like to, OP, one day again (not yet 50), but I feel it's not going to be practically possible.
😕

snowlady4 · 21/02/2025 06:39

You could of course do it.. but what's the point?
No netflix, no online banking, booking tickets, flights etc would mean having to go to a library or travel agents.
Life would become more challenging. And its challenging enough as it is!

GnomeDePlume · 21/02/2025 06:40

BobnLen · 21/02/2025 06:32

I don't think having internet guarantees a doctors appointment, I wanted one recently and have internet but couldn't get one so had to dig out my old cream and hope it still works, maybe that's the plan

You are so right. My GP has just gone online. You fill out the AI triage forms, submit and then hope you will win an appointment in the daily lucky dip.

If you get an appointment it won't necessarily be with a doctor.

BobnLen · 21/02/2025 06:40

You can watch Netflix on the mobile network though, I think OP just means no broadband

DustyLee123 · 21/02/2025 06:41

My elderly father has to have internet to book GP appointments and get repeat prescriptions. Despite his age and lack of ability, they won’t let him do it by phone or in person.

BobnLen · 21/02/2025 06:47

GP surgeries are probably trying to exclude people anyway so having only the internet to contact them is a good start as that will exclude mainly elderly or poor. Then next it is easy to ignore appointments if the person is not there in person to book or on phone so win win for the surgery

Catza · 21/02/2025 07:44

farmlife2 · 20/02/2025 22:01

We had big phone books to find numbers. It's not hard. Numbers are also on letters.

If I have to be on hold, sometimes for two hours, I usually do my work or other things while having my phone on speaker so I can just tend to it when they answer.

There are ways.

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So do you still have a phone book delivered to your door? I haven't seen one since 2005.

BobnLen · 21/02/2025 07:52

Catza · 21/02/2025 07:44

So do you still have a phone book delivered to your door? I haven't seen one since 2005.

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They are available to buy.

ValentineValentineV · 21/02/2025 08:08

I’m 56, I could ‘exist’ but life would be a pain in the butt.

Original poster

Bad80sPerm · 21/02/2025 08:21

BobnLen · 21/02/2025 06:17

The question is a bit strange as it seems to just mean broadband not mobile network

No it DOES mean everything but I’ve currently got mobile so currently not jnternet free

OP posts:

Roystonv · 21/02/2025 08:29

Think internet has already gone too far along the path for many people. The developments come so fast and companies just don't care about those who can't keep pace with tech. Just when you think you have grasped something it changes. E-mails you can't reply to from e.g. your insurance company, chat lines (1.5 hours with talktalk yesterday renewing my contract), telephone numbers almost impossible to find etc. Praised MP yesterday saying that old systems must stay in place until it can be deemed that those not tech savvy have largely 'moved on'. It is appalling if clients can't get in touch easily

SemperIdem · 21/02/2025 08:49

WhisperingTree · 20/02/2025 22:23

@SemperIdem but a lot of things are harder without the internet. Banking and shopping for example. I don’t know how you shop for insurance without it. Or switch your electricity and gas supplier. Or remortgage. Or book a holiday. It’s all the things you need to do for life admin.

I don’t know how he gets around things like that to be honest. Perhaps he leans on my aunt and cousins whilst not actively using it himself. But he seems perfectly happy living his life as though it is still 1995.

I’m in my mid 30’s and the internet is so intrinsic to my daily life, I can’t imagine suddenly not having it.

Original poster

Bad80sPerm · 21/02/2025 09:00

BobnLen · 21/02/2025 06:40

You can watch Netflix on the mobile network though, I think OP just means no broadband

No I mean everything- it’s just that I’m NOT internet free atm because I have mobile data - it’s just a future proposal

OP posts:

Catza · 21/02/2025 09:05

BobnLen · 21/02/2025 07:52

They are available to buy.

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I just looked around and it seems like you can only buy it.... online. Or by calling a government office number which, I imagine most people won't have on hand.
I am sure it is perfectly possible to go off grid and many people successfully done so. But is it really practicable day to day?
I have a full time job, for example. Let's leave aside the fact that I need internet connection in order to do it. It's more important that I don't actually have two hours to "do other things" while waiting on a phone line.
I am currently buying a house. My mortgage broker is in Cardiff, my solicitor is in Bath, the seller's solicitor is in Northumberland. I would have to take a day off work to drive around and sign papers in person. Not to mention that I would also need to take time off to drive to my bank (which closes at 2.30pm) in order to request paper statements. And I don't think I would be able to access my credit report at all. The simple truth is that the world moved on and we have to move on with it. We can chose not to but this would mean losing access to many of the necessities and luxuries the modern world provides which includes the luxury of free time.

HepzibahGreen · 21/02/2025 09:20

Vanillabourbon · 21/02/2025 06:32

You may be able to for now, but we now have to book a doctors appointment through an app, you cannot call the surgery anymore.

Also things like banking, paying bills etc. It's so much quicker to do a lot of things online.

My doctor is trying to do this. I think it’s outrageous. It’s putting barriers to care for the people who might need it most. My mum would just have tried and failed with the app and given up. When I was really ill I don’t think I could have managed an app to do a triage form but I could hit “ doctor” on my phone and speak to someone.
This is the problem. The more we use the internet the more we need it.

hookiewookie29 · 21/02/2025 10:01

I have a friend the same age as me -56- and she doesn't have broadband or Internet. So if she needs to do any banking, she has to go to the bank...same with shopping and everything else we use the Internet for. At the moment she's looking for a car so is trying to visit car dealers by bus to see what they've got, and is also spending hours on the phone getting insurance quotes.
I don't get it.....

EmpressaurusKitty · 21/02/2025 10:08

hookiewookie29 · 21/02/2025 10:01

I have a friend the same age as me -56- and she doesn't have broadband or Internet. So if she needs to do any banking, she has to go to the bank...same with shopping and everything else we use the Internet for. At the moment she's looking for a car so is trying to visit car dealers by bus to see what they've got, and is also spending hours on the phone getting insurance quotes.
I don't get it.....

And it’s not age-related. I’m 51, I work with websites & I’ve been using the internet since my 20s.

Knowing how to do things offline: Good.
Choosing to do everything offline: Making life unnecessarily difficult.

ComtesseDeSpair · 21/02/2025 10:08

Nothatgingerpirate · 21/02/2025 06:37

I would like to, OP, one day again (not yet 50), but I feel it's not going to be practically possible.
😕

But for somebody who says they’d like to be free of the internet, why are you on MN? Not snarky, a genuine question. It’s a prime example of how you could very easily not have most of the internet in your life: set up an automatic blocker on your phone for any website except e.g. your bank, the council, DC’s schools, Google maps etc. And you can be (mostly) free of the internet, right now, instantly, your dream. But you’re voluntarily using the internet for non-essential things, when you say you’d rather not have it at all. Why?

farmlife2 · 21/02/2025 10:12

Catza · 21/02/2025 07:44

So do you still have a phone book delivered to your door? I haven't seen one since 2005.

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We do have the option, but not routinely anymore. Often businesses do have notices up in the supermarket and local bulletin boards, local publications, etc. On their buildings, on cars. You can ask for word of mouth when you see people IRL, which is often a good way to go. So many other options. Not saying it's not easier with the internet, just saying it's not impossible without it.

Nothatgingerpirate · 21/02/2025 10:24

ComtesseDeSpair · 21/02/2025 10:08

But for somebody who says they’d like to be free of the internet, why are you on MN? Not snarky, a genuine question. It’s a prime example of how you could very easily not have most of the internet in your life: set up an automatic blocker on your phone for any website except e.g. your bank, the council, DC’s schools, Google maps etc. And you can be (mostly) free of the internet, right now, instantly, your dream. But you’re voluntarily using the internet for non-essential things, when you say you’d rather not have it at all. Why?

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I'm voluntarily using the Internet to answer the OP.....
However, I believe that life was 100% better without it.

TickingAlongNicely · 21/02/2025 10:28

I had some training to do for my Volunteering role. I did at 6am, on my sofa with a cup of coffee. My life would have been a whole lot worse having to go drive to a meeting, spend an hour there looking at the same information then driving back. I have several other courses that need doing (updates) and will likely do them at similarly odd times as I have insomnia.

Jayne35 · 21/02/2025 10:30

I could manage as I remember life before internet (and mobiles - I was mid 20s when I got my first phone) but I think it would be a struggle, we now do so much online, I also play far too many online games, while watching tv - which is not great but has become a habit, maybe a short 're set' would be good for some.

Aussiegold · 21/02/2025 10:36

I did meet someone in their 50s who refused to use the Internet and it made not just their life difficult, but those around them.
He couldn't check his work schedule so needed to call up all the time and likewise his boss would email the schedule out to everyone and then post one out to him and hope he got it in time.
Couldn't join a union as they wanted an email address, booking appointments was laborious and also couldn't receive any reminders. The list went on.
He was an engineer but each to their own.

Printedword · 21/02/2025 10:48

WhisperingTree · 20/02/2025 22:23

@SemperIdem but a lot of things are harder without the internet. Banking and shopping for example. I don’t know how you shop for insurance without it. Or switch your electricity and gas supplier. Or remortgage. Or book a holiday. It’s all the things you need to do for life admin.

Banking online isn't essential if you live in a town with a branch or do telephone banking.

My only recent experience of shopping for insurance was less successful on the internet and completely solved by my Coop membership and their very helpful helpline. It's a kind of once in a blue moon activity.

Switching gas or electricity is also a once in a blue moon activity.

Holiday booking - it's true this is very difficult without the internet/a smartphone.

But as per the original question as to whether doing without the internet would be a thing for a person in their 50s. I'd say those 75 and under probably do need at least a smartphone or smart tv. Probably a laptop too. My Dad passed away a couple of years ago in his 90s. He had a mobile phone but no internet/smartphone. There were very few things I needed to help him with even when he stopped going out and about in his last few months.

BobnLen · 21/02/2025 11:28

Some people only have a smartphone and it must be very difficult having to just use that for everything, I bought a larger iPhone as I thought it would be easier but it's not, everything is still small and fiddly so it just sits there mainly unused but everything from it is on my computer and iPad anyway like 2FA codes. It's probably because I'm old I find the phone a pain and fiddling.