In a 2021 Ipsos survey reported that “7 in 10 Americans think it is important to know their family’s history. The poll also finds that older generations are more likely than younger generations to say that knowing their ancestry is important.”

There are many reasons to research one’s ancestry – curiosity, family pride, a sense of connection, to seek family health information…and even to reconnect with lost family members. The popularity of shows like Finding Your Roots adds to the surge of interest in family history and genealogy – and now technology has tools to help the search.

How it starts

Learning one’s history starts with family lore, passed down one or two generations. Finding any older information was a time-consuming endeavor. It took Alex Haley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family, over ten years to research seven generations of his family history.

The digital age revolutionized family history exploration, with new technological tools that expedited the process. This transformation makes it easier for older adults to investigate their family histories and build strong personal connections to their heredity. With just a few clicks on a home computer, users can create a family tree, explore their genetics at their own pace, and truly immerse themselves in a journey of discovery.

Want to share your tips on researching your family tree? Join Senior Planet Community’s Heritage Hunters Group! 

Genealogy Versus DNA

The two ways to explore your heritage digitally are through family history (genealogy) websites and genetic (DNA) testing.

Genealogy websites

Genealogy websites use digital tools to create a family tree by connecting historical documents, records, and other people’s research to identify genealogical relationships. Many of them are online; the Open Directory Project reported that it indexed over 6,600 genealogy websites.

Most family history sites are subscription-based, with prices ranging from free to seven hundred dollars yearly. Several specialty family history sites concentrate on people of a particular heritage. Findmypast.com focuses on people with Irish and English history, whereas Afrigeneas.org helps people research their African-American heritage.

The big three genealogy research sites are Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.com, and MyHeritage.com

• Ancestry.com  boasts the most extensive collection of family archives, with “30 billion records from 80-plus countries and 100 million public family trees.” The platform uses a gamification strategy with “hints,” which are calls to action that direct users to new information while keeping them engaged. Pricing ranges from free to $54.99 per month. Ancestry Library Edition is free and available on many computers at local public libraries.
• MyHeritage.com specializes in non-U.S. records and has a unique tool to colorize black-and-white photos. The company claims to have six billion profiles and 51 million family trees. Pricing ranges from free to $399 annually.
• FamilySearch.com is free and privately owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It has over five billion historical documents, over 80 million new ancestors, 360 million sources, and 6,466 FamilySearch Centers – public facilities people can visit to research family history.

Want to know more about finding your family history? Find online classes and info in Senior Planet’s new genealogy page here.  

Genetic Testing

Genetic testing focuses on decoding your DNA to uncover ancestry, potential health risks, traits, and genetic predispositions to certain conditions. DNA testing is 99% accurate. The process is simple; add your saliva to a plastic tube and send it off for analysis. The cost ranges from $36 to $300, with a la carte options that could raise the price to $2,000.

The New York Times Wirecutter series conducted over “90 hours of research and three years of testing every major population group” and recommended AncestryDNA (a subsidiary of Ancestry.com), 23andMe, and FamilyTreeDNA as the top picks for genetic DNA testing. The article warned buyers to beware because the privacy concerns for sharing DNA with for-profit companies are “still evolving,” e.g., law enforcement investigations and insurance coverage.

Unfortunately, DNA testing is a mixed blessing. While it can unite long lost siblings, children, or parents, some of those folks don’t want to be found.  In other cases, DNA testing can reveal information about paternity with disastrous consequences.

YOUR TURN

Have your researched your family history online? Did you learn anything that surprised you? Leave a comment; we’d love to hear from you!

Deborah Reale is a digital marketing and communications consultant specializing in social media, analytics, content writing, and editing. Ms. Reale has written for Business Development Magazine, Construction Industry Today, and quoted in Investor’s Business Daily and the book Social Media in Action. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management and a graduate degree in business administration.