Are You on A Social Networking Site?

Social networking is not just for kids anymore.  The fastest growing population on Facebook is between 40 and 60 years old.  Another growing segment are those over the age of 60.  This group may have signed up originally to chat with their grandchildren, but it’s becoming a lot more than that.

My 70+-year old mother was telling me the other day that she connected with people she went to High School with.  How do you like that?  Almost 50 years later, she was able to reconnect with friends and acquaintances from High School!

With so many different types of social networking sites on line, how do you choose?  What is the difference between them?

• Twitter is one that has gained a lot of popularity, especially in the media.  Some towns and villages have set up Twitter sites to inform their community on what’s going on.  In Tamarac, Florida, the “Tamgram” is on Twitter.  If there is something new or something going on in the town, the Twitter Tamgram tells its constituents.  Twitter is also for research, trends and getting opinions from many different people.

• Facebook enables you to connect with your children and grandchildren and anyone else who you have known for the last 50+ years.  It’s a great vehicle to connect and get reacquainted.  It also has a host of shops, retail outlets and restaurants.  If you “like” these pages, you will be offered with coupons and other incentives.

• LinkedIn is a site that is used mostly by business people. It’s a good site if you are looking for a job or looking for leads for your business.  There are good forums and chat rooms where you can get specific information about a subject.  For example, if you are looking to write a book about your life, you may consider joining a writing forum on LinkedIn.

• YouTube is a fun site to see videos of your children and grandchildren. It’s also a place to see trends and watch videos that have gone viral.

• Flickr is another social networking site that many seniors use to post photographs that they take.  Remember this site is open for everyone and once you post a photo it may be used in someone’s blog site or somewhere else on the Internet.

My advise, start with Facebook to get your feet wet.  Start conversations and remember that social networking is about sharing experiences and getting to know people.