The Internet came into being just a few decades back, which means that the elderly population may not have grown with this technology. That does not mean that they have no access to it. In fact, many of them may already be into Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media platforms. They may also be navigating social media for entertainment and research purposes. There are a lot of learning opportunities through these, but you need to know how to guide your loved ones when using these avenues.
Learning The Basics
The Internet puts a start to online communication. It has become the world’s most accessible telecommunication system because it makes it easier for anyone to connect to their friends and family (sometimes even strangers). You just need to know what’s Yahoo and Google, navigate through such pages, then make your connections through social media sites.
What Are The Common Social Media Sites?
One of the most popular ones is Facebook, a platform that can be used to connect with friends, family members, and even co-workers. It is also a place to know more about events, and what’s happening around the world. There are games one can access through Facebook as well.
Next to this, there is Twitter where people can share short insights about trending topics, or retweet what others have posted. You can also reply to posts that have been shared through this platform. Coming next is Instagram, a social media app that has captivated the hearts of many. In here, you get to see captivating pictures of sights and events that you may have been a part of or even those you have missed. There are plenty of other social media apps like YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.
Getting Connected
You cannot connect on the above-mentioned social media sites unless you have set up your own account. Basically, you need an email address to register your account and an existing mobile phone number on some of these sites. Application varies from one social media site to another, but it is good to note that these provide easy-to-understand instructions on how to do it. You can always guide your loved ones when creating their account. Just let them know how to access their accounts later.
Do Not Overshare
As with young ones, the elderly may be fascinated with the use of social media, thus causing them to share every single little thing that they are doing and wanting to do. In line with this, make sure there are custom settings, particularly in terms of security and privacy.
Navigating social media will make your loved ones pass a day without getting bored, but you have to make sure that they know their limitations when doing so. It also pays to have someone to talk to, most especially if they are in a community where they get to spend time with people their age. There are other fun activities that they can engage in once they are there so that they can limit their use of social media from time to time.
