Older Australians to get digital skills

Young relatives of older Australians will get a reprieve from acting as tech support if the government gets its way.

The coalition has promised to spend $50 million teaching seniors how to use smartphones and tablets if it wins Saturday's election.

Fewer than a million of Australia's 4.8 million seniors have a smartphone, despite four in five of the general population owning one.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wants to see a digital revolution in the nation's libraries, CWA halls and retirement villages.

He says technology is not just about convenience, but giving older citizens a way to stay connected with their family and friends.