Generations Come Together to Bridge the Digital Divide in 'Cyber-Seniors'

A group of seniors end up in a competition to create the most-viewed YouTube video. They are tutored in the ways of social media by a pair of high-school-age sisters who believe that online communication helps grandparents and grandkids stay close.Watch on WSKG TV Monday, November 28, 2016 at 9:00pm. The Inspiration The idea for the Cyber-Seniors documentary came from a high school project that was launched by the director’s two sisters, Macaulee and Kascha Cassaday. The sisters had witnessed firsthand how learning to use the Internet had transformed their grandparents’ lives. After learning some basic skills, their grandparents were in touch several times a week by email, Facebook and Skype. The Internet was instrumental in keeping their family connected despite busy schedules and living in different cities. Inspired by this realization, the sisters started the Cyber-Seniors program to help other seniors get online. After filming some of the early lessons, their older sister Saffron began to see a story emerge and joined forces with her mother, Producer Brenda Rusnak, to create a documentary film.Cyber-Seniors: Connection Generations Campaign More than 1,000 nonprofits, businesses and educational institutions across the country are using the film to inspire young people to act as digital mentors to bridge the digital divide, and to encourage older adults to get connected through technology. Cyber-Seniors screening and resource kits have been developed to give organizations a turn-key solution for sharing the film and starting a Cyber-Seniors program in their community. These resources are powerful tools for organizations who wish to inspire their members, reach out to the community, and generate local media coverage. Learn more about sharing the film and starting a Cyber-Seniors program in your community.