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Introduction to social media
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The Benefits of Social Media for Older People
It is difficult for many people to picture their lives without the internet. The way we work, shop, and communicate has completely changed, as a result of the internet. That is partly because of social media. No matter how far away we are from one another, platforms like Facebook keep us in touch.
However, do they not cater just to youths and teenagers? Not at all!
More than half of internet users over 65 have a social media profile, according to a recent BMC Geriatrics study. Nonetheless, there's a chance that the social media revolution will leave some elderly people behind. We've created a thorough tutorial on social media for seniors with this in mind.
If you have never used social media, you may be unsure of the benefits of doing so. People of all ages have been using social media extensively throughout the past ten years and more. The use of social media by senior citizens has many advantages. -
Helping combat Loneliness.
First and foremost, social media helps us stay in touch with our loved ones. This is particularly beneficial while battling loneliness. Millions of older people in Europe suffer from loneliness, which is a major worry during emergencies like pandemics. In Europe, nearly 30% of those over 75 live alone (2024 Harvard International Review). It goes without saying that solitude is bad for mental health. However, did you realize that it can also have an impact on your physical health? A 2010 study found that loneliness has the same negative health effects as smoking fifteen cigarettes a day. Moreover, dementia and heart disease are conditions that are more common in lonely persons.
In light of this, the social advantages of websites like Facebook are evident. Seniors can easily stay in touch with loved ones both locally and abroad by using social media. -
Re-establish contact with Old Friends
It's likely that many people you know are online because social media is used by so many people these days. This probably includes those with whom you may have lost contact over time.
It used to be very common to misplace an address or forget someone's phone number, leaving you unable to get in touch with them. Thanks to social media, the days of losing contact with loved ones are long gone.
Why not try looking for an old school friend or coworker after creating an account? You may also narrow down your search results by age and region, which increases your chances of finding an old acquaintance whose birthday, year, or city you remember. It's simple to message them and begin catching up from there! -
Keep Up with Current Events
The news can now reach you directly, saving you from having to look for it in a newspaper, on the radio, or on television.
Keeping up with current events as they happen is now simpler than ever thanks to websites like Facebook. Additionally, consumers have the option to sign up to receive news alerts when significant stories break from reliable sources, such as the official state media. For senior citizens, social media offers yet another fantastic advantage.
Make an impression on your grandchildren
A lot of young people think that older people are simply ignorant about social media. How fulfilling would it be to demonstrate your prowess on social media to the youth in your life? Consider sending your grandchildren a Facebook friend request as a surprise! -
What is Social Media?
The word "social media" refers to a range of online tools that let users communicate and produce content. It is part of the World Wide Web and comes in many forms, including blogs, forums, business networks, photo-sharing platforms, social gaming, chat apps, and last but not least social networks.
Social media is a computer-based technology that facilitates the sharing of ideas and information and the building of virtual networks and communities. This is a tool that people use to connect with friends and family. Users can post and share photos and videos, create their own blog, play games with others from another site of the world, send messages and etc. It is also very important for the businesses in order to for them to reach out to new customers and partners.
Social media is used to keep in touch with friends and extended family, a network for career opportunities, find people from all over the globe who share a common interest, share content and more. Those who engage in these activities are part of a virtual social network.
Social Media and online Communication Tools Examples:
1. Gmail
2. Facebook
3. Viber
4. Instagram
5. Facebook Messenger
6. Twitter
8. Skype
9. WhatsApp
In order to use social media people need to make their own profile.
A profile is necessary to represent an individual in social media. Social profiles can reveal information about the person, like profile photo, biographical data, recent activity, interests, photos, feed of recent posts and etc.
The benefits of social media are pretty clear. But how do you get started? Which websites should you sign up to? Next, we’ll answer all these questions and more.
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