Frequently Asked Questions

Digital Confidence Centre is a free, self-paced digital literacy programme built specifically for Ontario seniors aged 70 and over. We offer 16 modules covering everything from the basics of your iPad to staying safe from scams — in plain language, at your own pace, with no tests you can fail.

You can start any time, revisit any lesson as often as you like, and stop whenever you need a break. Everything stays exactly where you left it.

This programme was built for Ontario adults — especially those aged 70 and over — who feel uncertain, confused, or anxious about technology. You do not need any previous experience. If you are reading this page, you already have the skills you need to begin.

It is also helpful for adult children or grandchildren who want to share a learning resource with an older relative, and for libraries and senior centres looking for structured digital literacy content.

No prior knowledge is needed. The programme starts from the very beginning — Module 1 teaches you the single most important skill on any device: how to stop, go back, and start over safely. Everything builds from there.

If you can tap a screen or move a mouse, you have all the technical skill required to begin.

Each module takes roughly 20 to 45 minutes to read through — longer if you practise the steps on your own device as you go, which we encourage. The full programme of 16 modules can be completed over a few afternoons, or stretched across several weeks. There is no deadline.

Many people complete one module per day and find that comfortable.

Absolutely. This is a self-paced programme — you control when you start, when you stop, and how long you spend on each lesson. There are no time limits, no live sessions, and no instructor waiting for you.

The programme remembers your progress using a small file on your device (called a cookie). If you close the page and come back, you can pick up from where you left off.

No — there is no cost. No subscription, no account required, no hidden fees. The programme is funded as a community service by Two Birds, a small Ontario product studio.

We will never ask you for payment, your credit card, or any personal information beyond what you choose to share through the optional feedback form.

First — this is completely normal. Getting stuck is part of learning, not a sign you are doing something wrong.

If a section is confusing, try reading it again slowly. If it still does not make sense, skip it and come back later — the surrounding context sometimes makes a tricky part clearer on a second pass.

You can also call Connected Canadians at 1-855-808-0505 for free one-on-one help from a real person.

Yes. Each module page has a 🖨️ Print This Module button at the bottom-right of the screen. Clicking it opens your browser's print dialogue. The printed version hides navigation and sidebars so you get a clean, readable document.

Printed lessons are great for keeping beside your device while you practise, or for sharing with a friend or family member.

No. You can use the entire Digital Confidence Centre without an email address or any account of any kind. Just open the website and start reading.

An email address is only needed if you want to receive the optional Certificate of Completion after finishing all 16 modules and the final assessment.

Yes — anyone can use it, and there is no limit. You can go through the programme together, side by side, which many couples and friends find more enjoyable than learning alone.

Note that progress is saved to the individual device and browser, so your progress and your spouse's progress are tracked separately if you use different devices.

Wi-Fi is internet that comes from a wireless router — at home, at the library, or at a coffee shop. When you are on Wi-Fi, browsing costs nothing extra. You can tell you are on Wi-Fi by the fan-shaped symbol at the top of your screen.

Mobile data (also called cellular data) is internet provided through your phone company — Telus, Bell, Rogers, etc. You pay for a monthly allowance (e.g., 5 GB). Streaming videos and downloading apps uses the most data. Tip: connect to Wi-Fi at home and you will rarely use your data allowance at all.

Email programmes use automatic filters to catch unwanted messages — but sometimes they make mistakes. A newsletter you signed up for, a receipt from a store, or even an email from a friend can land in Junk or Spam by accident.

If this happens, open the email and tap "Not Junk" or "Not Spam." Future emails from that sender should arrive in your inbox. Check your Junk folder once a week just in case something important was filtered out.

Your device saves copies of websites you visit (called a cache) so they load faster next time. Sometimes these saved copies get outdated and cause a page to look wrong.

Clearing your cache is like saying, "Forget what you saved — get a fresh copy from the internet." On an iPhone or iPad: Settings → Safari → Clear History and Website Data. You may need to log in again to websites you visit regularly.

It is reasonably safe on your personal device if you have a screen lock passcode. Apple's built-in password manager (iCloud Keychain) encrypts your passwords and is a solid choice for most people.

Never save passwords on a shared or public device — a computer at the library, a friend's tablet, or any device other people use. See Module 3: Passwords for a full explanation of safe password habits.

Websites detect your device type and show a mobile version on tablets and phones — with bigger buttons and simpler menus, designed for touch screens. The content is the same; the layout just adjusts to fit your screen.

If you prefer the full desktop view, look for a small link at the bottom of the page that says "View full site" or "Desktop version."

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) creates a private tunnel for your internet traffic — hiding your activity from your internet provider and people on the same Wi-Fi network. It is most useful when using public Wi-Fi in a café or hotel.

For most seniors at home on a private Wi-Fi network, a VPN is not essential. If you use public Wi-Fi regularly, a reputable paid VPN (like NordVPN or ExpressVPN) is worth considering. Be cautious of free VPNs — some collect and sell your data, which is the opposite of what you want.

Internet cookies are small text files that websites save on your device to remember things about you — like your login, your language preference, or what is in your shopping cart. They are how a site knows you were there before.

Most cookies are harmless and helpful. "Third-party cookies" are different — these track your browsing across different websites for advertising. Browsers now block many of these by default. When a website asks if you "accept cookies," you can safely choose "Accept necessary only" or "Decline optional cookies."

Notifications are pop-up alerts from a website — like a ping from a news site when a story is published, or a reminder from a calendar app. Websites must ask your permission before sending them.

You can almost always say No or Block — most websites do not need to send you notifications. Saying no does not stop the website from working. If you accidentally said yes and you now get unwanted alerts, go to Settings → Notifications on your device and turn them off for that site or app.

Google is a search engine — a website (google.ca) where you type questions to find information. Chrome is a browser — the app you use to visit websites and access Google.

Think of it this way: Chrome is the car you drive, and Google is a destination you visit. You can use Chrome to visit Google, but you can also use it to visit any other website. On an iPhone or iPad, Safari is the built-in browser — it works the same way.

When you see "update available," your device or app is telling you a newer, improved version is ready. Yes, you should update — updates fix security vulnerabilities, which are weaknesses that scammers can exploit if left unpatched.

On an iPhone or iPad: Settings → General → Software Update. Connect to Wi-Fi before updating. The update usually takes 10–20 minutes and your device may restart. Everything will look the same afterwards — updates do not erase your data.

Every device has a limited amount of storage space for photos, apps, videos, and documents. When it gets full, new photos may not save and some apps may stop working properly.

Quick fixes: Delete photos you no longer need, remove apps you never use, or enable iCloud Photos (on Apple devices) which moves photos to the cloud to free up space. Go to Settings → General → iPhone/iPad Storage to see what is using the most space and get recommendations.

"The cloud" simply means storage on someone else's computers, accessed over the internet. When your photos "save to the cloud," they are actually being stored on Apple's (or Google's) servers in large data centres — not just on your device.

The advantage: if you lose or break your device, your photos and documents are safe and can be restored. iCloud (Apple), Google Drive, and OneDrive (Microsoft) are common cloud services. See Module 7: Photos & Memories for more on using iCloud safely.

"Sync" (short for synchronise) means making sure the same information appears on all your devices. For example, if you add a contact on your iPhone, syncing sends that contact to your iPad and computer automatically, so all three devices show the same thing.

On Apple devices, syncing happens automatically through iCloud when you are connected to Wi-Fi. You usually do not need to do anything — it works in the background.

Apps ask for permissions when they need to access parts of your device to work properly. A video calling app needs your camera and microphone. A mapping app needs your location. A contacts app needs your contacts list.

You can always say No — the app will still install, but some features may not work. A good rule: if an app asks for a permission that does not make sense (a flashlight app wanting your contacts, for example), that is a red flag. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security to review and change what apps can access.

Two-factor authentication is an extra security step after you enter your password. The most common version: you enter your password, and then a short code is sent to your phone by text message. You enter that code to complete the login — like a second key to the same door.

You should enable 2FA on your email, banking, and social media accounts. Even if a scammer somehow gets your password, they cannot log in without the code sent to your phone. Your bank's "Security" or "Account Settings" section is where to turn it on.

Look for these signs of a safe website:

• HTTPS (not HTTP) — look for the padlock icon in the address bar. This means your connection to the site is encrypted.
• Recognisable web address — rbc.com is safe; rbc-secure-login.com is suspicious. Watch for misspellings or extra words added to real brand names.
• No pressure tactics — legitimate sites do not use countdown timers or "only 1 left!" for important decisions.

When in doubt, close the page and search for the company directly through Google rather than clicking a link you received by email or text. See Module 2: The Security Shield for more.

A strong password is long, random, and unique. Length matters most — a 16-character password is far stronger than an 8-character one, even if the short one uses symbols.

The easiest approach: use a passphrase — three or four random words strung together, like PurpleMapleBoatTuesday. It is long, easy to remember, and very hard to crack. Never use your name, birthday, address, or the word "password." See Module 3: Passwords for the full guide.

No — this is one of the most important safety rules online. If you use the same password everywhere and one site is hacked, scammers will try that same password on your email, your bank, your social media — and they will get in.

The solution: use a different password for every important account. A password manager (like Apple's built-in iCloud Keychain) can generate and remember unique passwords for every site so you only need to remember one main password. Module 3 covers this fully.

Phishing (pronounced "fishing") is when a scammer sends a fake email, text, or message pretending to be a trusted organisation — your bank, Canada Post, the CRA, or Apple — to trick you into clicking a link and entering your password or personal information.

The name comes from the idea of "fishing" — they cast a convincing lure and wait for someone to bite. See Module 2 and our Scam Simulator for practice spotting phishing attempts.

Watch for these red flags:

• Sender address does not match the company — td-alerts@gmail.com is not a real TD address
• Generic greeting — "Dear Valued Customer" instead of your name
• Urgency or threats — "Your account will be deleted in 24 hours!"
• Requests for passwords or banking details — no real company asks for this by email
• Suspicious links — hover over any link (on a computer) to see where it actually leads

When in doubt: delete the email and contact the company directly using a phone number or website address you find yourself.

Stay calm — clicking a link alone usually does not cause harm. Here is what to do:

1. Close the page immediately — do not enter any information
2. Do not download anything the page may suggest
3. If you entered your password — change it immediately on the real website
4. If you entered banking or payment details — call your bank right away
5. Run a software update on your device, just to be safe

If you are unsure whether anything happened, call Connected Canadians at 1-855-808-0505 — they can talk you through it for free.

Public Wi-Fi (in cafés, airports, libraries) is less secure than your home network because others on the same network can sometimes intercept unencrypted traffic. However, most websites today use HTTPS encryption, which protects your data even on public Wi-Fi.

Safe on public Wi-Fi: reading news, searching, browsing. Avoid on public Wi-Fi: online banking, shopping with your credit card, or entering passwords on sensitive accounts. If you must do banking on the go, use your phone's mobile data instead of public Wi-Fi.

Identity theft is when someone uses your personal information — name, date of birth, Social Insurance Number, credit card details — to pretend to be you and commit fraud, often opening new credit accounts in your name.

Prevention steps: Never share your SIN except when legally required (tax filings, employment). Shred documents with personal information. Check your credit report once a year for free at equifax.ca or transunion.ca. Use strong, unique passwords. Enable 2FA on important accounts.

It is reasonable to let unknown numbers go to voicemail. A real caller who needs to reach you will leave a message. Scam calls almost never leave voicemails — or they leave automated threatening messages designed to frighten you into calling back.

If you do answer and something feels wrong — urgent pressure, requests for gift cards or personal information, threats of arrest — hang up immediately. You owe no explanation. If you are worried it was real, look up the organisation's number yourself and call them back directly.

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that locks or encrypts your files and then demands payment — usually in gift cards or cryptocurrency — to unlock them. It is most common on Windows computers and is typically spread through email attachments or fake software downloads.

Prevention: Keep your operating system and apps updated, do not open email attachments from unknown senders, and back up your important files regularly to an external drive or cloud storage. iPhones and iPads are far less vulnerable to ransomware than Windows computers.

On iPhones and iPads, true viruses are extremely rare thanks to Apple's security model. Warning signs that something is wrong: the device is very slow, apps crash constantly, your battery drains unusually fast, or strange pop-ups appear constantly. Most of these are caused by full storage or outdated software — not a virus.

On Windows computers, Microsoft Defender (built in) will alert you if it finds something. Be very sceptical of pop-up warnings from websites claiming your device is infected — these are almost always scams trying to get you to call a fake tech support number.

Yes — reputable password managers are among the safest ways to handle your passwords. They encrypt your passwords so strongly that even the company running the service cannot read them. Apple's iCloud Keychain (built into iPhone and iPad), 1Password, and Bitwarden are all well-regarded options.

Using a password manager means you can have a strong, unique password for every site without having to remember any of them — just one main "master password" to unlock the manager itself. This is safer than reusing the same password everywhere.

Never share these with anyone online or by phone unless you are certain of who is asking and why:

• Social Insurance Number (SIN)
• Full banking details — account number, transit number, online banking password
• Credit card number, expiry date, and CVV code (the 3-digit code on the back)
• Passwords or PINs of any kind — your bank will never ask for these
• Date of birth combined with full name and address — this combination is enough for identity theft

Sharing your first name, general city, or email address on a legitimate site is usually fine.

Scammers obtain phone numbers from several sources: data breaches (when a company's database is hacked and sold), purchased marketing lists, random-number diallers that call every number in a sequence, and public records. Your number being called does not mean you did anything wrong.

You can reduce unwanted calls by registering on Canada's National Do Not Call List at lnnte-dncl.gc.ca or by calling 1-866-580-3625. Legitimate Canadian companies are legally required to honour this registry.

Spam is unwanted bulk email — advertisements, newsletters you did not sign up for, or mass messages sent to thousands of people. Spam is annoying but usually not dangerous. It just clutters your inbox.

A scam is a deliberate attempt to defraud you — to steal money, personal information, or access to your accounts. Not all spam is a scam, but all scams arrive as some form of unsolicited communication. The key difference: does it want something valuable from you?

On an iPhone or iPad: Start composing your email. Tap the body of the email, then tap the small arrow in the formatting bar (or hold your finger on a blank area in the email body until a menu appears). Choose "Insert Photo or Video." Select the photo and tap Use. Then send as usual.

Alternatively, go to your Photos app, find the photo, tap the Share button (a square with an arrow pointing up), and choose Mail from the sharing options. A new email will open with the photo already attached.

In an email: Tap the PDF attachment to open it. Tap the Share button (square with arrow). Choose "Save to Files" to save it to your iPad's Files app, or choose "Save to iCloud Drive" to save it to the cloud. You can find it later in the Files app (blue folder icon).

If you want to print it instead, choose "Print" from the Share menu — your nearby AirPrint printer should appear automatically.

Tap the Share button (square with an arrow pointing up) on whatever you want to print — a webpage, photo, or document. Scroll down and tap Print. Choose your printer from the list (your printer must support AirPrint and be on the same Wi-Fi network as your iPad).

If your printer does not appear, check that it is turned on, connected to Wi-Fi, and that your iPad is on the same Wi-Fi network. Most modern printers support AirPrint — look for the AirPrint logo or check your printer's manual.

On an iPhone or iPad: In Safari, tap AA in the address bar (the two different-sized A's on the left side). Then tap the larger A to increase the text size on that page.

On this website specifically: Use the A A A A buttons at the top of the page — tap the larger ones to increase text size. Your preference is saved automatically across all pages on this site.

For a permanent system-wide change: Settings → Display & Brightness → Text Size — drag the slider right to make everything bigger.

In Safari on iPhone or iPad: Go to the website you want to save. Tap the Share button (square with arrow pointing up) at the bottom of the screen. Tap "Add Bookmark." Give it a name and tap Save.

To find your bookmarks later: tap the book icon at the bottom of Safari. Your saved bookmarks will appear as a list. Tapping any of them takes you straight to that website.

In Safari: Tap the book icon at the bottom of the screen. Tap the clock icon (History) at the top of the panel that appears. You will see a list of websites you have visited recently, organised by date.

Tap any website in the history to go back to it. If you cleared your history recently or use Private Browsing, the history will be empty — websites visited in Private mode are not saved.

Only download apps through official stores:

• iPhone or iPad: App Store (the blue icon with an A)
• Android: Google Play Store
• Windows computer: Microsoft Store

Before downloading: check the developer name (does it match the real company?), read the reviews, and note the number of downloads. If an app is brand new with few reviews, be cautious. Never install an app from a website, email link, or pop-up ad. See Module 4: App Store Safety for a full walkthrough.

Scroll to the very bottom of the email — most legitimate marketing emails include a small "Unsubscribe" or "Manage preferences" link. Tapping it will take you to a page where you can remove yourself from the mailing list. Allow a few days for the change to take effect.

Important: Only use the unsubscribe link in emails from companies you recognise. For suspected scam emails — delete without clicking anything. Clicking "unsubscribe" on a scam email confirms your address is active and may result in more scam emails.

FaceTime (iPhone/iPad users calling other Apple devices): Open the FaceTime app (green camera icon), tap the + button, type the person's name or phone number, and tap Video.

If they have an Android phone or different device: Use WhatsApp (free calls between any devices), Google Meet, or Zoom. All are free to download from the App Store.

See Module 8: Stay Connected for a step-by-step guide to video calling.

The safest way to pay a bill online is through your bank's official website or app — log in and use the Bill Payment feature to pay directly from your account.

Steps: Open your bank's app. Find "Pay Bills" or "Transfers." Add the company as a payee (you will need your account number from your bill). Enter the amount and confirm. Your bank's app is encrypted and the safest channel for payments.

Never pay a bill by clicking a link in an email. Always go directly to your bank's app or website. See Module 6: Banking for a full walkthrough.

ChatGPT is an AI assistant made by a company called OpenAI. You type a question or request, and it responds in plain language — almost like texting with a very knowledgeable friend. Many seniors find it helpful for writing letters, explaining things, or getting recipe ideas. It is free to use at chat.openai.com. That said, AI can sometimes give wrong information confidently (called "hallucinating"), so always double-check important facts from another source, especially anything medical or legal.

Yes, unfortunately. Scammers are using AI to create more convincing fake voices, emails, and videos. An AI can now imitate the voice of a family member well enough to be convincing on a phone call. The key protection is the same as always: if something feels urgent or unusual, slow down, hang up, and call the person back on a number you already have. Real emergencies can wait 60 seconds for a callback.

Siri is Apple's voice assistant built into every iPhone and iPad. You activate it by pressing and holding the side button, or saying "Hey Siri" if you have that feature turned on. You can ask Siri to call someone, set a reminder, tell you the weather, answer a question, or open an app — all without typing. It understands natural speech and is quite forgiving if you misspeak.

Yes, this is one of the safest and most useful things to do with AI. You can describe what you want to say, and the AI will write a polished version for you to review and edit. Never include sensitive personal information (like your SIN, banking details, or full birthdate) when using AI tools, as a precaution.

A deepfake is a video or voice recording made with AI that looks or sounds like a real person — but the words or actions were fabricated. Red flags include: the person seems slightly "off" or robotic, the mouth doesn't quite match the words, or the message is urgent and asks for money or personal information. When in doubt, call the real person directly.

AI assistants like ChatGPT or Siri are generally safe to use for everyday questions and tasks. Just follow these rules: never share your SIN, banking information, or passwords with an AI, don't use it for medical diagnoses (ask your doctor instead), and remember that answers can sometimes be wrong. Think of AI as a helpful but occasionally unreliable assistant who always means well.

A Google search finds existing web pages and gives you links to read. An AI assistant reads your question and writes a new, personalised answer just for you. AI is better for getting an explanation or having something summarised. Google is better for finding current news, specific websites, or checking whether a business is real.

Not unless you copy and paste them into an AI chat. AI tools don't automatically access your email, messages, or files. However, anything you type into a public AI service may be stored by the company and used to improve their AI. So it's always wise not to type anything truly private (like account numbers or health details) into an AI tool.

Your iPhone or iPad learns from what you type over time and tries to predict what word or phrase you want next. These suggestions appear in a bar above your keyboard. You can tap a suggestion to use it, or ignore it and keep typing. This is a simple form of AI — it's just trying to save you typing time.

Voice assistants like Siri only "wake up" when they hear their trigger phrase ("Hey Siri"). They are not recording continuous conversations. However, when you do say the trigger phrase, a short clip is sent to Apple's servers for processing. You can review and delete this data in your iPhone Privacy settings. Most people find the convenience far outweighs the minor privacy trade-off.

Smart speakers are generally safe. They listen for a specific wake word ("Alexa" or "Hey Siri") and only activate when they hear it. The main risk is that someone could overhear sensitive conversations if the device accidentally activates. Practical precautions: keep smart speakers out of your bedroom, mute the microphone when having private conversations (most have a physical mute button), and regularly review the voice history in the device's app.

It is possible but rare if you follow basic precautions: use a strong, unique password for your home Wi-Fi and for each smart device account, keep the device's app updated, and enable two-factor authentication on your accounts. If you receive an unexpected email saying someone logged into your device from an unfamiliar location, take it seriously and change your password immediately.

Reputable brands (like Philips Hue, TP-Link/Kasa, or Apple HomeKit-compatible devices) collect very limited data — mainly usage patterns to improve performance. They are not watching you. However, it is sensible to buy from well-known brands rather than the cheapest no-name device from an unfamiliar seller, which may have weaker security.

Most smart home devices stop responding to app or voice controls when the internet is down, but many have a manual override (a button on the device itself). Smart bulbs can usually still be turned on and off at the wall switch. This is a good reason not to replace physical light switches or locks entirely — keep manual controls available.

No. This is almost certainly a scam or at best an arrangement where you are paying with your privacy. Hidden or unauthorised camera installations are illegal in Canada. Never accept offers to install surveillance equipment from someone you don't know and trust completely.

Many modern smart home devices, especially Apple HomeKit products, are designed to be set up by non-technical users. The instructions are step-by-step and use plain language. However, if you feel uncertain, asking a trusted family member or a reputable local tech support service is completely reasonable. Our Module 14 covers smart home setup in detail.

Your video is stored in your account on the company's secure servers. The most popular services (Ring, Nest, Arlo) use strong encryption. However, use the privacy settings to limit whether your footage is shared with third parties, and use a strong unique password for your account. Some municipalities also have rules about where cameras can point — your camera should primarily show your own property.

A mesh Wi-Fi system uses several small devices placed around your home to create one strong, seamless Wi-Fi network. If you have rooms where your Wi-Fi signal is weak or drops out, a mesh system can fix that. They are more expensive than a single router but much easier to manage than trying to extend your existing Wi-Fi with a cheap extender. For a typical house (under 2,000 sq ft), a standard router is usually fine.

Yes, on reputable websites. Look for: a padlock icon in your browser's address bar, an address that starts with "https://" (the 's' stands for secure), and a website address you recognise. Stick to well-known Canadian and international retailers. If you are ever unsure about a site, use PayPal or your bank's virtual card feature instead of entering your card directly.

Use a credit card rather than a debit card — credit cards have stronger fraud protection and you can dispute charges more easily. Shop on websites you know (Amazon, Walmart Canada, Canadian Tire, your bank's shopping portal). Keep receipts (screenshot the order confirmation). Be very cautious of deals that seem too good to be true on sites you've never heard of.

Red flags for fake reviews: all 5-star reviews with no specifics, multiple reviews posted on the same day, reviews that use the same phrases repeatedly, reviewers with no other review history. Look for verified purchase badges. Websites like Fakespot can help analyse reviews. When in doubt, search "[product name] review" on Google to find independent opinions.

This is almost certainly a phishing scam — it is one of the most common in Canada. Amazon will never email you to ask for payment information this way. Go directly to amazon.ca by typing it in your browser (don't click the link), log in, and check your orders. If there is truly a problem, you will see it there. Delete the suspicious email.

Yes — most reputable Canadian online retailers have return policies. Amazon Canada has a generous 30-day return window on most items. Check the return policy BEFORE you buy. Look for a "Returns" link at the bottom of the website. Keep all packaging until you're sure you want to keep the item, as some returns require the original box.

Be very cautious. Prices far below market value are a strong warning sign. Common scams on Facebook Marketplace include selling stolen devices, selling non-functioning devices, asking for payment before you see the item (e-Transfer or gift card), or asking you to ship money before receiving the goods. If you want to buy second-hand electronics, meet in a public place, inspect the item first, and pay cash or only send an e-Transfer once you have the item in your hands.

On large, well-known retailers (Amazon, Walmart), yes — they use strong security and encryption. On smaller or unfamiliar websites, it is better to enter your card each time or use PayPal. If a website you have saved a card with announces a data breach, change that card number immediately (call your bank and ask for a new card).

Group texts on iPhone appear exactly like a regular text message, just with multiple names at the top. To reply to everyone in the group, just type and send as normal. To reply to only one person privately, tap their name at the top and select "Message." If the group chat becomes too busy or noisy, you can mute it by pressing and holding the conversation in your message list, then selecting "Hide Alerts."

The easiest option on an iPhone or iPad is a shared iCloud album. In the Photos app, tap the + button to create a new album, choose "Shared Album," give it a name, and invite family members by email. They can view and add photos too. Alternatively, you can simply text photos directly, or use WhatsApp which makes it easy to send multiple photos to a group.

WhatsApp is a free app for sending text messages, photos, voice messages, and making video calls. It works over Wi-Fi or your phone data plan, which means it can be free for international calls to family in other countries. It is owned by Meta (Facebook's parent company). Download it free from the App Store. Your phone number is your WhatsApp account — no separate username needed.

Yes! FaceTime only works between Apple devices, but there are several apps that work across all devices. Google Meet and WhatsApp Video both work on iPhone, Android, and computers. Zoom also works on all devices. Simply both download the same app and you can video call regardless of what type of phone each person has.

This is one of the most common feelings we hear from seniors — and it is completely understandable. Here's the truth: most younger people genuinely enjoy helping and feel closer to older family members when they can teach them something. You could say "I'm working on learning how to do [thing], could you show me next time we talk?" Most grandchildren will be delighted to help. You might also find that asking questions opens up a whole new type of conversation with them.