Seniors and Social Media
How They’re Using It (And Why You Should Too)
The stereotypical image of a senior struggling to figure out the basic uses of a computer is outdated. Seniors still may not be as comfortable on computers as their grandkids, but more of them than ever are taking advantage of the opportunities presented by technology.
Seniors are now the fastest growing group of social media users. There are 39 million people over 65 now on Facebook, Skype and Twitter. Are you one of them?
If not, it may be time to start.
3 Big Benefits to Using Social Media
Not everyone understood the appeal of social media right out of the gate, but as the main social networks have grown, people have found more and more uses and benefits to them. There’s a reason that over half of the United States population has a profile on a social media site.
They all must have found something to like on those sites with (sometimes) silly names.
1. See family pictures.
If you have kids, grandkids, or family members of any type, you probably like seeing pictures of them – especially if any of them are babies or little kids. Your family members are probably already posting scores of images of their kids, pets, vacations and whatever else they regularly bother to snap photos of.
Even if you don’t care as much about the photos of last night’s dinner that come up from time to time, you probably will like seeing the many images of your family living life day to day. For those people you care most about that don’t live close, you can still get a regular glimpse into their lives through social media.
2. Stay connected to old friends.
We already mentioned the huge number of seniors already on social media. Did you read that and wonder if any of them were your friends? Chances are, many of the people you’ve met throughout your life – in school, work, church, and the hobbies you practiced over the years – are already on the sites.
What if you could reconnect with your best friend from elementary school and see updates on what her life looks like now? Or see whatever happened to your first love? No matter how much time and geographic distance has come between you and the people that were once important in your life, social media can help you connect.
3. Always be learning.
No matter how many years you live, there’s always more to learn. Many people use social media to share articles and other resources that they find valuable. Twitter and Facebook are both commonly used for sharing news articles or interesting stories.
By connecting with people who share your interests, you can gain easy access to a steady stream of worthwhile reading and viewing material. Of course, it doesn’t all have to be academic, you can also learn about a number of new entertainment resources. From cat videos to webseries to online comics, people are quick to share things they find cute, funny, or otherwise entertaining.
Setting up a profile on most of the popular social media sites is surprisingly simple. You fill in a basic form to provide your email address, preferred screen name, and desired password and you’re ready to get started. Just remember to be careful what you say; everyone you connect with will be able to see it!
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Kristen Hicks
Kristen Hicks is an Austin-based copywriter and lifelong student with an ongoing curiousity to learn and explore new things. She turns that interest to researching and exploring subjects helpful to seniors and their families for SeniorAdvisor.com.