If you or someone you love is an older adult, staying socially connected to others is vital to ones’ physical and mental well-being. In addition to the traditional face-to-face interactions with family and friends, a great way to stay socially connected to others is via the internet. Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are experiencing a tremendous growth in users among the senior population. More and more older adults are using social networking to keep up with people that we know who live in different areas of the country or world. It allows us to reconnect with people we have lost touch with – old school friends, relatives, former neighbors, and so on and to develop new relationships.
According to the latest research, more and more older adults (55+) are using technology in their everyday life. When compared to other generations American seniors have historically been late adopters. However, they now make up the fastest growing population of users to join today’s digital life.
Hurdles Facing Older Adults and New Technologies
Older adults face several unique barriers and challenges when it comes to adopting new technologies. These include:
- Physical challenges to using technology: Some seniors have a physical or health condition that make it difficult to use new technologies. Issues with eyesight, memory, and hand and eye coordination can prevent an older adult from readily using a computer, iPad, or smartphone.
- Affordability: There is a definite cost factor associated with owning a computer, iPAD, or other mobile device, including the cost of the device itself and service for the data plan and/or internet connection. Such costs may prevent older adults from being able to afford to purchase and maintain these devices.
- Skeptical attitudes about the benefits of technology: The world of technology plays a vital role in connecting people to opportunities for social support, news and information government services, banking, health resources, shopping, books, entertainment, and learning tool. Unfortunately, despite these overwhelming benefits, seniors who have been skeptical about using technology may not understand or appreciate the amazing benefits of technology until they start using it.
- Difficulties learning to use new technologies: A significant majority of older adults say they need assistance when it comes to using new digital devices. The good news – we have solutions for you. There are many ways that older adults can learn how to use technology with a willing attitude and a bit of effort. Consider the following: 1) take computer classes through AARP, your local computer stores, community education programs and colleges; 2) start reading self-help books on technology for seniors and accessing resources online through YouTube and other browser searches; and 3) seek advice from those friends and family members who are comfortable with technology and knowledgeable in the use of software programs, social media sites, smartphones, and/or other mobile devices.
- Psychological barriers: There is a prevailing stereotypic attitude or belief that older adults can’t or won’t learn how to use technology. Of course, this is simply untrue. Most older adults can effectively use technology if they put their minds to it and with a certain amount of encouragement. Studies show that once seniors join the online world, digital technology often becomes an integral part of their daily lives as it opens doors to new experiences and learning opportunities.
Your Best Bets for Social Networking
A social network is a website community that enables users to connect with and share their thoughts, activities, pictures, and even videos with one another. Think of it as an online network of friends and family, including former schoolmates, coworkers, and neighbors.
To become socially connected to others via social media, explore these sites as your first step. Before you plunge into one or more, be sure that you understand the basics for each site and perhaps become an observer for a while. Above all, get the help you need and don’t give up.
- Facebook at facebook.com: Join Facebook as a way to keep track of what friends and family are up to and keep them up to date on your activities. Facebook is the most popular social network today with more than 1.5 billion users worldwide. You can easily sign up with a free account. The rest is up to you.
- Instagram at instagram.com: Instagram is a worldwide photo and video sharing networking service designed for both personal and professional use. It provides an amazing opportunity to share your creative talents with others and to stay connected to friends and family members.
- Linkedin at linkedin.com: Linkedin is different from Facebook and most other social media in that it has a distinct focus on business. Businesses use Linkedin to find potential employees; job hunters use Linkedin to look for potential employers; and business professionals use Linkedin to keep in touch with former colleagues and others in their professions. Linkedin is a great way to network with other people in your industry and to keep tabs on what your current and former colleagues are up to. Much like Facebook, you can sign up for a free account.
- Twitter at twitter.com: Twitter is not a social network per se, but rather a microblogging service. Technicalities aside, Twitter is kind of like a Facebook but without the focus on picture sharing and groups, and such. Twitter focuses on short (140-character max) messages called tweets, which is shared with a user’s followers. After you sign up for a free account, be careful about your posts. On twitter, famous people with tons of followers may post something that they will later regret.
- Pinterest at pinterest.com is a newer social network with a particular appeal to women. Unlike Facebook, which lets you post text-based status updates, Pinterest is all about images. The site consists of a collect of virtual online “pinboards” that people use to share pictures from the Web that they find interesting. Like the other social media sites, you will have to sign up for a free account.
To Get Started
Don’t overthink technology. Begin with better understanding each of the social media sites and how you might use them. Be sure to seek the help you need to start joining one or more of these sites. With technology comes a lot of jargon. Basically, it may feel like you are learning a foreign language. So, give yourself time to learn and eventually the rewards of being connected to others via social media will outweigh the effort and initial frustration. Always remember that once you feel more comfortable and start mastering social media, you will wonder how you lived without it in the past. But, isn’t that true with most technology we now take for granted?
Written by: Patricia K. Flanigan, Smart Strategies for Successful Living
Patricia K. Flanigan has worked in higher education for over 28 years. She holds a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of La Verne as well as a M.A. in Latin American Studies and B.A. in Anthropology from the University of California, Los Angeles. Before retiring and moving to Idaho in 2015, she served as the dean of online education and learning resources at Saddleback College, a large community college in Southern California. She currently consults in higher education, volunteers for AARP, writes for a local magazine, and serves as an Affiliate Faculty member at Boise State University and on the Board for LEARN Idaho. Since February 2017, she has been the founding director for Smart Strategies for Successful Living, a community-based website designed to promote quality aging. As an educator, her focus is to inspire others to live and age well.