Most Nizhny Novgorod residents consider it important to teach the elderly digital security.

      August 25, 2026 18:05 Society Residents of the Nizhny Novgorod region shared how they help older relatives navigate digital security. MTS and the online platform "Avito" analyzed the level of digital literacy among the region's residents. The study showed that 28% of Nizhny Novgorod residents make online transactions several times a month. Another 30% do this more frequently—almost every day or several times a week. At the same time, 89% of residents believe it is important for the younger generation to explain safety rules when communicating online, via messengers, and by phone. The most common advice is not to share personal data with strangers. This is given to older relatives by 50% of Nizhny Novgorod residents. Another 40% recommend not to open suspicious links from messages and emails. 31% of respondents specifically remind not to disclose personal data to strangers during phone calls. Nizhny Novgorod residents also advise using complex unique passwords and two-factor authentication (32%), not agreeing to prepayment when shopping online (22%), not sharing access to accounts even with close ones (19%), and buying goods only from verified platforms (19%). Another 16% recommend comparing prices and focusing on the average market value. Residents over 45 often seek help from younger people. Almost a quarter of them (24%) ask children, grandchildren, or acquaintances to show them how to use a specific app, website, or service. Another 20% need help setting up protection against intruders. 13% of respondents want to understand the internet and smartphones in general or learn to recognize scams online, protect their data, and safely handle personal information. At the same time, 74% of study participants believe that digital companies should provide users with practical safety advice. Among residents over 45, short and clear video instructions are the most in demand—this format was chosen by 56%. Another 38% prefer printed reminders or brochures with large print, while 25% rely on the help of relatives who can demonstrate everything in practice. Young Nizhny Novgorod residents are also increasingly using technology for protection. More than half of the region's residents aged 18 to 44 (54%) already use AI-based services, including virtual defenders in tariffs and AI assistants. MTS director in the Nizhny Novgorod region, Andrey Belov, noted that for many residents of the region, digital security is primarily associated with caring for loved ones. According to him, the demand for AI solutions for protection against cyber threats remains high, and the safety of elderly parents and relatives particularly concerns Nizhny Novgorod residents. He also mentioned that this year MTS launched notifications about unwanted calls for family members. This tool allows real-time alerts to warn loved ones about potentially dangerous calls. The NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on major events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When republishing, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+