In the News
102 articles, op-eds, interviews and event recaps from Project GOAL, dating back to our launch.
The article describes the rapid growth of AI in the aging space and its promise in supporting many aspects of healthy aging, with steps families can take for safe interactions with AI companions and chatbots.
Hosted by MMTC, LGBT Tech, and OCA (Asian Pacific American Advocates)
Future of Privacy Forum AI & Privacy Conference: Advancing Principled Data Protection, AI, and Digital Governance Practices
Hosted by Broadband Breakfast
And Broadband Access, Hosted by ALLVanza, Hispanic 100
Online Scams and Older Adults: It’s Just One Battle After Another, Broadband Breakfast. This expert opinion piece emphasizes the ongoing serious problem of scams and highlights…
On 11/11/25, Project GOAL’s Executive Director, Debra Berlyn, led a seminar at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh on the topic, Aging, Privacy and Technology Innovations . The lecture was for a privacy seminar…
On 12/2/25, Opinion Editorial published Modernizing The Telephone Network: Holding On To An Important Element for Older Adults from Project GOAL’s Executive Director, Debra Berlyn
On 11/10/25, Broadband Breakfast published an Opinion Editorial by Deb Berlyn on the topic of older adults online and the proliferation of scams and fraud, particularly during the holiday online shopping…
On 9/24, Project GOAL Executive Director Deb Berlyn presented remarks virtually before a live audience in Jamaica at a regional AI4IA conference. Discussed topics included how technology innovations for aging offer a…
On 9/28, Project GOAL Executive Director Debra Berlyn presented a virtual video address to a world conference on AI Information (AI4IA) on the topic. The presentation highlighted global aging trends and increasing…
Technology cannot fill in all the social services and specialized health care gaps for older adults living in rural America. But there are dynamic advances and innovations in technology here today, as well as on the…
Including Scams: If it seems too good to be true it most likely is." Expert Opinion Published by Broadband Breakfast https://broadbandbreakfast.com/broadband-opens-oppor
Event on March 6, 2025
March 12th, Online Scams Targeting Gen-Z and Aging Americans: A Conversation Across Generations Most Impacted. Link to watch the Webinar: https://lnkd.in/dc9rUGrW
Question: Dear Tech & AGEing: I’m a 71-year-old woman living in a rural town in Western Massachusetts and my husband is in his 80’s. I have several devices in my home, including a smartphone, a tablet, and a…
Life Happens Show to be aired 2/13/25 – Link will be posted on the Project GOAL website as soon as it goes live
Quote in article in AARP Bulletin Publication, November 2024 Issue Online Shopping’s Holiday Horrors: Counterfeit products and fake online stores can steal your money and identity
Published by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) Certain types of technology have the potential to help ease social isolation and loneliness, especially for older women. A majority of women 50+ are adept at using…
For older adults, the convenience of online shopping is an enormous benefit, and at several times a year, savvy shoppers can locate sales on popular items. Today, Amazon is kicking-off its Prime Deals Days for…
Losses due to scams continue to increase with adoption of high-speed internet. The number of those age 65 and older in the U.S. using the internet has now reached an all-time high of 88% and the aging community is…
The copper wire telephone network was the foundation for our communications system. Today, telecommunications carriers across the country are working to modernize the network to improve the way we communicate by…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reports that consumers continue to lose significant money to scams and fraud. While those 18-59 report a greater number of fraud cases, older adults have more significant financial…
Host Shirley Rooker speaks with Debra Berlyn , the executive director of the Project to Get Older Adults onLine (Project GOAL), about what the latest consumer electronics show in Las Vegas has to offer the…
Debra Berlyn has spent much of career working to help older adults live well. She is the Executive Director of Project GOAL, which stands for get older adults online. She joined In Focus host, Mike Kallmeyer, and…
Increasingly, technology innovations for aging and accessibility provide amazing opportunities for older adults to live better in and around their homes. This year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) showcased tech…
It is downright shocking that millions of low-income older adults will lose their broadband connection due to uncertainty of funding. It is downright shocking that millions of low-income older adults, members of our…
A broadband connection opens a universe of opportunities and benefits for older adults that grows exponentially. Will Grammy find that “connection” and get the final rose? While that remains to be seen, we do know…
There is one activity that increased during the pandemic: online shopping. Consumers embrace of e-commerce has been ongoing and continues to grow, with online spending in 2022 skyrocketing to a record $1.3 trillion.…
Today, three-year old Max wants to get on the family computer and see his Grammy on the other side of the country, but she could be one of the approximately 34 percent of those age 65 and older who still ar en’t…
Advances in technology offer a window into infinite possibilities to support independent living and general wellness in our modern world. Using a home high-speed internet/wifi connection, today’s older adult can…
Today’s the day for 5-year-old Maya’s Grammy to get serious about her holiday shopping. 71-year-old Jeanette has her list at the ready for the toys and clothes she wants to buy for Maya and her six other…
Aging and the Digital Divide: Opportunities for the ACP Program Getting Older Adults onLine (GOAL) Friday, December 2, 2022 - 12:00pm to 1:30pm Time Zone: EST Live Event Opening Remarks FCC CGB Chief Alejandro Roark…
Helpful tips for safe shopping this summer. Summertime and online shopping can be easy – and safe – for everyone, particularly older adults. As a result of the unexpected years of the pandemic, there has been a seismic…
By Debra Berlyn - broadbandbreakfast.com - June 3, 2022 Summertime and online shopping can be easy – and safe – for everyone, particularly older adults. As a result of the unexpected years of the pandemic, there has…
By Debra Berlyn - broadbandbreakfast.com - January 24, 2022 It’s the start of a new year and time to view what’s on the horizon for the latest technology innovations. To our great anticipation, the most significant…
By Debra Berlyn - broadbandbreakfast.com - November 1, 2021 Getting everyone connected to broadband is feeling like the World Series – and we are in the seventh inning stretch. For our most vulnerable consumers with…
2/16/21, Broadband Breakfast The COVD-19 pandemic has been an extremely difficult time for everyone and has led to the implementation of major changes in our daily behaviors. In order to overcome this adversity and…
By Debra Berlyn - broadbandbreakfast.com - February 16, 2021 The COVD-19 pandemic has been an extremely difficult time for everyone and has led to the implementation of major changes in our daily behaviors. In order to…
2020 has been a year, but perhaps not for all the reasons we had hoped. In addition to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, this year we have experienced an extraordinary number of fires, hurricanes, floods and other…
George,” is the greeting for this 86-year-old, as he wakes-up to his voice assisted device reporting on the weather and the dai
By Debra Berlyn - broadbandbreakfast.com - June 23, 2020 COVID-19 has highlighted the need for broadband services for consumers across the expanse of our country. The crisis has dictated a protracted stay at home…
Debra Berlyn - fosi.org - May 26, 2020 These are challenging and uncertain times for all of us, with extended stay at home requirements changing the way we live our everyday lives. Since the start of the COVID-19…
By Carlos Gutierrez and Debra Berlyn - washingtonblade.com - May 15, 2020 Today we are all adapting to the complications of COVID-19 and its impact on our daily life. As we abide by current “stay-at-home” orders, we…
By Debra Berlyn - broadbandbreakfast.com - May 7, 2020 Broadband and technology devices are most certainly game changers is this age of COVID-19. For the older adult community, the benefits of innovation have opened…
Deb Berlyn, Morning Consult , 4/15/20 These are difficult times for all of us, as we experience social distancing and an extreme disruption to our everyday way of life. There is no demographic group, however, that is…
Last week, Project GOAL hosted a policy briefing on Capitol Hill, “Yes, Even Older Americans Are in the ‘Race to 5G!’,” revealing a national survey conducted to better understand what older adults expect from…
In October, Project GOAL convened a program at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. to discuss public and private sector solutions to bridge the broadband gap for low-income older adults. The event, “Making the…
Did you know that well over half of the older adults in the U.S. – those who are 65 or older --are now online? According to Pew Research 84% of American adults and 58% of older adults are now use the Internet.While…
During the last few days of 2015, I was pleased to hear the announcement from Charter Communications that it intends to offer high-speed, low-cost broadband connectivity to seniors and low-income consumers. It will be…
FOSI Announces 2015 Award WinnersHonors Outstanding Achievements in Online SafetyOn the evening of November 17th, the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) will recognize six individuals, nominated by their peers, the…
McKnight’s, by Kelly Lee Hardin
Did you know October is cyber security month and according to Pew Research 84% of American adults and 58% of senior citizens are now online? Taking steps to protect yourself online has become a necessity in our digital…
Akshat Rathi
Pure Talk USA
Today Money, by Keith Wagstaff
Not in a home , Venture Beat
The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is a great opportunity to experience technology from the very simple to the complex. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to be at this year’s CES. Not only was I…
In October, we hosted a panel discussion on the topic: “What Older Adults Need to Know About Their Online Security and Safety” for Cyber-security Awareness Month. Speakers included representatives from the industry…
Project GOAL invites you to attend a special program during Cyber Security Awareness Month: "Cyber What? What Older Adults Need to Know about Their Online Security and Safety" Older adults are often concerned about…
There's a great new study of interest released today from the Pew Internet and American Life Project revealing growth in Internet use by older adults. A survey conducted for the survey found that as of April, 2012, 53%…
Project GOAL Safety Brochure Project GOAL Safety Brochure (Spanish)
Today is Safer Internet Day and there’s a great new study just released by AARP and Microsoft that reveals how online communications and social networking are helping families to keep in touch, enriching their…
For the past few years, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has hosted a series of special programs to highlight the consumer markets for specific demographic groups. This year at CES, I attended the Silver Summit, a…
The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES)is a showcase of every imaginable technology device and service for consumers. I attended the show this year, and once again found so many fascinating ways that technology is…
On Friday, October 18th, the Project GOAL hosted a research panel entitled “The Wellness Benefits of Broadband for Older Adults.” The panel discussed the importance of broadband technology and how new broadband…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 18, 2011Media Contact: Warren RobinsonPhone: 202-572-6214 Project GOAL Distributes New Privacy Recommendations to National Association of Area Agencies on Aging Conference WASHINGTON –…
Facebook and YouTube help the elderly keep their brains active and stave off memory loss, according to scientists.Pensioners who frequent social networking sites, and other online destinations, such as Skype - have…
On a recent Sunday evening, each of my kids was engaged with some electronic gadget or another. I was about to call for a moratorium on screen time and a return to family time.Unbeknown to me, they were already…
By her own admission, Mary Dysart Quint wastes too much time on Facebook. The Pittsfield, Maine resident logs on to the social networking site three or four times a day to chat with friends and family, share links to…
Teenagers are abandoning blogs, while members of the "G.I. Generation" are flocking to Facebook. These are two of the findings in a new report from the Pew Internet & American Life Project , which put out a similar…
If you’re like most consumers today, you’re spending many hours a day online, surfing the Internet for information, sending and receiving e-mails, watching videos, exchanging photos, communicating on social networks…
According to a recent Pew Research study the broadband revolution is catching fire for older adult online users.Overall, the survey found that 63% of adult Americans now have broadband internet connections at home, a…
As social media has grown dramatically in recent years, older adults have been especially excited about embracing new networking technologies.According to a recent Pew Research Study, social media use among internet…
On Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Project GOAL will be hosting two great events Get Connected Campaign Launch Breakfast featuring FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and All About the Value , a Conference on Broadband & Older…
A "robust and vital" digital infrastructure in the 21st century has been announced by FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and continues to be a topic of interest for older adults. This is why the FCC must ensure that the…
Boomers are re-booting the idea of "age." Whether being tuned into Internet radio, playing online games, monitoring our parents' home, or exercising in front of the HDTV, we are capitalizing on the digital life.On…
Granny, get your Google.That's the message from a new organization that aims to get more senior citizens online. Only about 35 percent of seniors have broadband service, compared with 65 percent of the entire adult…
The FCC's top broadband official helped launch a new initiative Tuesday aimed at encouraging more older adults to utilize the Internet. The initiative, known as the Project to Get Older Adults Online, will work to…
Broadband offers many benefits for older U.S. residents, including telemedicine, increased contact with family and friends, and shopping without leaving the house, but they subscribe to the service at a much lower…
Backed by such industry heavyweights as Comcast (NASD: CMCSA), Facebook and Microsoft (NASD: MSFT), a new D.C.-based organization officially launched on Tuesday, with the goal of getting more seniors to adopt…
An organization intended to get more older Americans online launched Tuesday, backed by tech giants like Verizon, Facebook, Comcast, and Microsoft.The Project to Get Older Adults onLine (GOAL) will work with aging…
Helping senior citizens recognize the Internet's relevance to daily life is key in encouraging them to adopt broadband, representatives from groups for aging adults said Tuesday during a news conference. Consumer…
Get Older Americans Online -- is launching April 6 with a press conference at the National Press Club and a speech by Federal Communications Commission senior broadband adviser Blair Levin
View the benefits of broadband here
The Internet is an increasingly necessary service for individuals of all ages, and is of even greater importance to the aging population. In addition to providing health information, entertainment and serving as an…
What's the latest research on broadband adoption and use?
Technology, tools and training for older adults
Mississippi Winn has 54 friends on Facebook. She enjoys all the benefits that having a broadband connection and joining a social network provides: communicating with family and reconnecting with friends. One…
Applications for the second round of U.S. broadband stimulus funding are starting to become publicly available on a federal website.Approximately 870 applications had been posted to the database as of Saturday,…
A far-reaching grant proposal for federal stimulus funds to link the Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey area via a broadband high-speed Internet network was submitted last week by the Central Coast Broadband…
And an annual population survey in 2009 by the Census Bureau found only 55 percent of Mississippians use the Internet, whether at home, at work, at school or elsewhere.That's low. The lowest in the country. The next…
The Internet has increasingly become an essential service for individuals of all ages. For kids, teens, adults and older adults, the Internet is an education tool, and offers unlimited information, entertainment, and…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture in March announced $150 million in grants for 12 projects extending access to rural broadband Internet - including four that affect North Dakota users. Overall, such projects have…
Twenty-five years ago, the World Wide Web did not exist. Very few Americans had even seen a mobile phone, and broadband networks were available only to a few businesses and research institutions
I've written many times on the Whiteness Of Wi-Fi, and how we as a people need to use technology to our own benefit--not corporate Americas. Now Black business in the city of Inglewood CA have moved forward to create…
WASHINGTON, April 2, 2010 – Chapter Four of the plan focuses on broadband competition and innovation policy. It’s one of the most far-reaching sections in the entire 360-page document. It starts by addressing various…
BOISE, Idaho — A central Idaho Internet company will use $2.4 million in federal stimulus money to build eight broadband towers that will deliver high-speed Internet access to businesses, hospitals, schools and homes…
Managers at the Peñasco Valley Telecommunications Cooperative in Artesia joke that it’s cheaper to relocate rural families to cities than it is to bring high-speed Internet to the desert
In a lot of ways, the executive summary of the National Broadband Plan released last week, like the health care bill that just became law, boils down to “who gets what,” and “who pays for it.” I recently spoke with…