Social Media? Four Tips For Older Adults

Is social media something older adults need to understand? Studies have shown the benefits and drawbacks of posting online. Technology can send many seniors running in the opposite direction. Senior living communities have started to offer classes in social media navigation for older adults. Is familiarity with email enough? With all of the possible complications, is social media worth it? Like any technology, individuals can decide how to incorporate it into their lives. Here are a few tips and summaries of the most popular social media platforms for the older adult demographic.

Facebook, founded in 2004, has more than 2.8 billion monthly users worldwide. A rapidly expanding demographic on the platform are adults over the age of 60. Users enjoy the opportunity to share photos, connect with old friends, and have an accessible option in sending messages to friends and family. The days of trying to remember the email address or home address to stay in touch are gone. Users can now click on the photo of their friends and have various options to make contact. Changing your password every few months to keep your account from being hacked is recommended. As a standard to all online activity, be wary of clicking on links sent to you from people you do not recognize. Taking these precautions into account, Facebook can be a way to follow your favorite groups, businesses, and circle of friends.

YouTube is the second most utilized social media platform for older adults after Facebook. Sixty-seven percent of YouTube users are adults over the age of 56. YouTube is like having access to all your favorite things to watch. A few examples would be shows from your past, exercise videos, music videos, and funny animal videos. An account is not required to enjoy YouTube. Locate the search window, type what you would like to see, and many options appear. Influencers create content directly for their demographic. There are endless hours of entertainment just a click away.

Do you remember carrying photos of your children in your wallet? If you were feeling fancy, you might have had that fold-out picture holder, or maybe you would try to swipe through photos on your phone. Instagram is a place to keep a scrapbook of your family memories online to share with your friends. While Instagram has offered more features like videos and stories, photos make up the most content. Did you return from a vacation or attend a family gathering? What to do with those photos? Choose your favorites and share them on Instagram. You can scroll through your friends’ photographs and see what they have been up to lately.

Vision boards have steadily gained in popularity. When deciding how you would like to decorate your new home or your suite at a senior living community, you may have needed to collect photos out of a magazine for inspiration. Pinterest is similar to an online vision board. Individuals can organize their favorite images, inspiration, quotes, or design ideas and save them into a personalized virtual collection. Forty percent of older adults enjoy time on Pinterest. There are links available to crafting ideas, blogs, exercise programs, and activities in addition to design ideas. Whether keeping in touch with friends on Facebook, watching your favorite shows on YouTube, sharing photos on Instagram, or getting inspired from Pinterest, let your imagination guide you and have fun. Check with your local senior living home. They might hold community gatherings for social media training or watch party events on YouTube.