Older American’s Get Cool Status with Social Media

Social Media

I found an interesting article on InformationWeek.com stating that a plethora of older Americans are beginning to utilize social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. While it isn’t uncommon for younger users to engage in social networking, the true shocker was the statistics.

Reports indicate that as of April of last year, only 22% of Americans over the age of 50 utilized social networking. The latest report for May of 2010 indicates a large incline to 42%. I think a large part of the increase is being influenced by younger generations, kids and grand kids asking their relatives and peers to join so they can interact on a regular basis. Then of course they ask their friends to join and the cycle begins. Gone are the days of just picking up the old land line to say hello, or sending out the 4 page hand written letter via priority mail.

Older Americans that are internet active, usually communicate through email. Studies also suggest that older users are slowly starting to gravitate towards social networking to communicate instead of just using the basic email function. Many people that are computer impaired are still very hesitant to sign up for let’s say “Facebook” do to their concerns for privacy. I wrote a previous article pertaining to the whole social privacy concerns not too long ago. It’s a large factor as to why older Americans aren’t flocking sooner to the virtual world of interacting and socializing.

From what I can tell, it’s definitely happening and will be a slower transition for some, but ultimately we will all be somehow part of the intricate brain of virtual reality.  I have already gotten mom signed up, now I have to work on grandma and grandpa. It’s going to be challenging, grandma just got her first laptop and she was so excited. That is until she turned it on and got lost through the so common maze of applications. I told her to take her time and gave a list of things not to do; I will tell other older Americans what I advised her, like everything you got to jump in and go in order to learn.

Have you already had the “social networking talk” with your parents and grandparents? If so how did it go?