this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2026

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what's your experience suggesting elderly relatives they should stop watching algorithm suggested slop, fox news and meet new people to talk to instead? (linux.community)

submitted 3 weeks ago by vestmoria@linux.community to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

25 comments fedilink hide all child comments

and how would an elder start looking for friends or recreational activities for seniors? I don't even know what's available.

my father has always been republican, never a maga type, just old school republican.

The last message he sent me was more a rant against everything that's wrong with the world together with some immigrant blaming and talking about an invasion. He also wrote how he misses when I was 5. He is usually more articulate, this message was all over the place.

My mother is Mexican and I'm half Mexican. Make it make sense.

On my answer, I asked him if my mother should be deported, if he is feeling lonely or angry and if he meets people in real life other than my mother or he spends his time watching slop and listening to right wing media.

I also told him talking about immigrants the way he did to me is the perfect way to end up alone or in a right wing bubble because nobody sane wants to talk to somebody with so much disregard for people wanting a better life.

He also wrote something about how AI makes people stupider, which I agree with and asked him if he is sure this isn't something exactly happening to him right now with the message he sent me, just hoping he snaps out of it.

I suggested, if he feels alone he may contact social services, but I have no idea if they actually help seniors find new people.

I also wanted to suggest he goes to a nursing home but it doesn't seem to be the ideal place for a competent senior to meet new people, does it?

If you ever did this, what worked for you?

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[–] ProdigalFrog@slrpnk.net 7 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Removing access to the sources giving them their opinions appears to be pretty effective at drastically reducing their focus on hating things and getting riled up. This was explored in The Brainwashing of my Dad documentary.

I was able to do this with my own mother, who only watched right-wing news from clips on YouTube. When she wasn't at her computer at an appointment, I installed a browser add-on called Blocktube that let's you selectively block YouTube channels or videos from popping by a list of keywords. I also then subscribed her account to left-wing news sources like pbs and more perfect union.

From that point onward, she was never recommended right-wing news or interviews, and within a few months her views on things noticeably changed, she no longer brought up all the fear-porn from fox, and even finally believed in climate change thanks to PBS Terra.

I was fortunate she didn't watch TV, where blocking a whole station would probably be more noticeable. But for those who have the opportunity to limit parent access to right-wing poison, I can attest to its effectiveness.