Social media has changed the way we stay in touch with our friends, family, and the society. From organizing get-togethers to initiating a certain cause, social media has made it so much easier to connect with people from all over the world. Today, almost 59% of older adults have gotten online and 46% of them are registered on at least one social media network. Continue reading to learn how older adults are benefiting from the use of social media.
Connect with Long-Distance Relatives
There are many older adults who reside geographically distant from their loved ones. As children and grandchildren move away, older adults can still stay in touch with their loved ones through social media. Social media is easy to use and highly practical, making communication effortless. Nothing can replace quality face-to-face interactions, but social media is still great to stay current in the lives of others.
Meet New Friends
Social media platforms such as the popular Facebook can help older adults meet new people. Finding friends who are of the same age group can be relatively difficult to be done in person without enough socialization opportunities. Through social media, older adults can reach out to those with similar interests and in turn forge new, meaningful relationships with one another. Similarly, older adults can also find their long-lost friends from childhood and restart those lost relationships.
Stay Socially Engaged
Social media is a great platform for older adults to become aware or even raise awareness on various important social issues. As active members of a social media network, older adults can stay current and get involved in important movements and raise issues that are critical for their generation.
Get Information or Education
Learning is a lifelong process. Social media provides a platform where older adults can receive important information or even get educated on various topics of discussion. There are social media accounts dedicated to current affairs and there are several others that focus on educating people. Regardless of their personal interests, there is always something new to explore every day to keep their free time occupied. Learning something new will also help to stimulate their mind and support their cognitive abilities. This is especially important for older adults to prevent the onset of dementia symptoms.
Get Business Opportunities
Many older adults prefer to reap an income even when they have reached their retirement age. Through social media, older adults can still enjoy retirement while engaging in a personal business. Many online sellers take advantage of social media to sell their homemade items such as baked goods, handicrafts, apparel, and more. The virtual marketplace is highly extensive and can even reach out to buyers from all around the globe.
Stay Entertained
Aging in place without friends or family near can be pretty isolating. Feelings of loneliness may lead to even severe problems like depression or anxiety. Through social media, older adults can keep themselves entertained through various media formats. There are movies, videos, songs, and other sources of entertainment for older adults to fill their free time with to stave off loneliness.
