By: Leanne Gummerson

Social Media and Seniors

In the following slides I will explain how social media affects seniors as social media becomes more popular.

I will discuss the use of the top four main social media sites that seniors use.

- Google & Yahoo- Facebook- You Tube

Introduction

I will discuss....- Why seniors use social media- What types of social media seniors tend to

use- What the advantages of seniors using social

media- What the disadvantages of seniors using

social media

Introduction

Seniors use social media for the same reasons the younger population uses it. They use it to connect or re-connect with friends , acquaintances and families members.

Most seniors have been introduced to social media through their children or grandchildren as the cool thing to do.

Seniors are also finding that by using social media they can learn about new things, where to meet new people, a better way to manage their own health

Lastly seniors have learned that they can communicate with others who are in the same or similar situations they are living in. Such as a seniors home.

Why Seniors Use Social Media

GoogleFacebookYahooYouTube

WHERE SENIORS LIKE TO HANG OUT ONLINE

These are the number one search engines senior citizens use today.

These are the top two search engines in Canada and that's why there the top used by seniors.

Dummies.com explains to seniors how to use Google. This makes it easier for them to use as its a step by step how to use Google.

Google & Yahoo

Advantages

- Allows them to search anything they want to know or buy.

- Allows them to search a destination they may want to drive to by using Google Maps.

- Allows seniors to ask questions about their health and others to reply what they’ve experienced.

Google & Yahoo

Disadvantages

- Makes them more vulnerable to scams, frauds and identity theft.

- They may give out too much personal information and not even know it

Google & Yahoo

Senior citizens are the fastest growing demographic on Facebook because it allows them to get in touch with their old friends as well as keep in touch with their families.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utnxz_L98Dg

Facebook

Advantages

- Allows them to connect with other people.- Allows them to see their grandkids or great

grandkids grow up every day by photos and videos.

- Allows them to chat with other people from other countries free of charge

- Allows them to express themselves.

Facebook

Disadvantages

- Makes them more vulnerable to scams, frauds and identity theft.

- Makes it easy for them to connect with people they may not even know

Facebook

You Tube allows for Seniors to watch videos on how to use social media and very many other things from using the internet to how to fix something in their home. These videos allows seniors to learn more things by watching a step by step video.

Youtube

Advantages

- Allows them to learn new skills about technology.

- Allows them to watch videos on how to use technology such as http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrJ-qJ2PqNc

- Allows for seniors to watch step by step videos on how to do something such as how to cook a turkey.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxjFqtfJlMs

Youtube

Disadvantages- Videos can be made and displayed that may

or may not be appropriate - Videos can be made and sent viral such as

this You Tube video that has gone viral and over 5.5 million people have viewed this video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcN08Tg3PWw

- This video also shows how the use of social media can cause seniors to become frustrated.

You Tube

In conclusion, these slides explained how social media affects seniors by using Google, Yahoo, Facebook and You Tube. Social media use by seniors has increased over the past few years as their kids are showing them how to use social media. I think most seniors use social media to stay in the loop with the younger generations

Conclusion

Annotated Bibliography •Contributor, Guest. (2012). 11 Reasons Why Seniors Should Care About Social Media: Media Scoop For Seniors. Retrieved from: http://seniornet.org/blog/11-reasons-why-seniors-should-care-about-social-media/•DesMarais, Christina. (2011). YouTube Video Captures Seniors Moments Goes Viral: PC World. Retrieved from: http://www.pcworld.com/article/240194/youtube_video_that_captured_senior_moments_goes_viral.html •Harris, Sandra. (2011). How Seniors Use Social Media: Web Master View. Retrieved from: http://www.webmasterview.com/2011/12/how-seniors-use-social-media/•Nelson, Melanie. (2012). Facebook All- in- One For Dummies: For Dummies Store. Retrieved from:http://www.dummies.com/store/Computers-Internet/Internet/Social-Networking.html•Parr, Ben. (2009). What Do Seniors Do Online? Visit Facebook and YouTube, of Course [STATS]: Mashable Social Media. Retrieved from: http://mashable.com/2009/12/10/seniors-online-habits/

Annotated Bibliography •Poirier, Gina. (2011). What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Social Media to Bring Attention to a Product: Chron. Retrieved from: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/advantages-disadvantages-using-social-media-bring-attention-product-27596.html•Sloan, Paul. (2012). 49 Percent of Online Seniors use Facebook: CNET. Retrieved from: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57449802-93/49-percent-of-online-seniors-use-facebook/ •Unknown Author. (2011). 5 Benefits of Social Media for seniors: Seniors Care Corner. Retrieved from:http://seniorcarecorner.com/5-benefits-of-social-media-for-seniors •Yum, Kenny. (2011). Boomers, Seniors Embracing Facebook, Study Finds: Huff Post Living. Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/11/09/facebook-senior-citizens_n_1083397.html •Zafar, Aylin. (2011). Facebook for Centenarians: Senior Citizens Learn Social Media: The Atlantic. Retrieved from: http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/08/facebook-for-centenarians-senior-citizens-learn-social-media/244357/

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