"Grandma Friended Me!" Seniors and Social Networking

In the April 2010 issue of Choices, we saw how computer use promotes healthy ageing. This month, we will take a look at the way today's older adults are using computers to enhance social relationships.

If the phrase "online social networking" brings to mind a 20-something thumbing away on a Blackberry, think again. Today, seniors are the fastest growing group to use social networking as a tool for expanding social connections and staying in touch with family and friends.

As we grow older, many of us tend to withdraw from the social networks and activities we once enjoyed. Failing health and decreased energy make it harder to get out of the house. Hearing impairment can cause communication frustration and a sense of isolation. The loss of a spouse, children moving away, and retirement from work can all lead to the breakdown of long-time social networks. Can online connections help fill the gap?

Experts on ageing have long known that staying socially connected improves physical and emotional well-being, increases mental alertness, and encourages a more active lifestyle. New research studies confirm these benefits and more, pinpointing the mechanisms behind the protective properties of human interaction that lessen the risk of Alzheimer's disease, promote heart health, improve symptoms of depression and minimize the effects of stress.

Research is underway to find out how effectively online connections meet the social needs of our later years. But one thing is already known: more and more seniors themselves value these new technologies, as evidenced by the numbers using them. As we saw in last month's Choices, Statistics Canada reports that when it comes to internet use, seniors are the fastest growing group to go online.

Are Online Connections the Same?

In a word, no. Using a webcam isn't the same as having a grandchild sitting on your lap. And it may be fun and beneficial to talk fishing or antique collecting with others via the chat room, but it doesn't take the place of in-person interaction with others.

Online social contact does, however, build continuity in relationships, and allows for daily interaction that was not available to seniors in previous times, when letters or long distance phone calls provided the only connection with far away loved ones. The convenience of email, social networking sites and webcam connections can help take the edge off loneliness. And, these technologies can be a lifeline for those with health problems that keep them confined to home.

Here are some of the new ways seniors are staying connected online:

Blogging

A blog—short for "weblog"— is an online journal that can be updated regularly. Some "bloggers" just report on their own lives and thoughts; others focus on a particular topic, with a journalistic approach. Online visitors can make comments to others' blogs or link to their own. Many seniors are creating their own blogs. Seniors are becoming ever more active in the "blogosphere," posting comments on the blogs of companies, individuals, news media sites and political groups.

Social Networking Websites

Sites such as Facebook and MySpace allow users to create a personal mini-website with information, comments and photos. Users control who has access to their page (allowing access is called "friending"). They can see who their friends have "friended," and can invite those people to join their group as well. Many seniors keep in touch with family, neighbourhood and interest groups using these free services. Senior support organizations are now using social networking sites to spread the word about activities and important information. With hundreds of millions of users worldwide, social networking offers a greater pool of potential social connections than ever before.

Twitter

Twitter is a social networking service that allows users to "microblog"—that is, send out very short messages (called "tweets") to the computer or text-enabled phones of others. A user chooses people, businesses, organizations, etc., from whom to receive tweets. For example, a senior following grandchildren's tweets might hear over the course of a day that "Jacob is bored in math class," "Brian is reading the new Harry Potter book" and "Emily's hockey team is in the paper today," with a link to the article. And seniors are sending out tweets of their own about what's going on in their day and what they are thinking about. (If you want to follow Retire-At-Home Home on Twitter, click here!)

Online Communities and Chat Rooms

Online communities are groups of people who exchange messages on websites that offer "forums" or "bulletin boards." Online communities (also known as "virtual communities") allow seniors to "meet" others with a shared membership or interest, such as a hobby, favorite TV program, health condition or class reunion group. Longtime friendships have developed over the decades that these communities have existed. Some online communities also offer chat rooms, where participants can keyboard online conversations in real time.

Webcams

Fifty years ago, science fiction settings often featured "videotelephones" in the homes of the future. In reality, this fixture hasn't caught on much—who wants the caller to see you in your bathrobe when you rush to answer the phone? But webcams have been more eagerly adopted, and seniors are some of the most enthusiastic users these days. Webcams are special cameras connected to a computer that send sound and video to another computer. For example, grandparents can read a bedtime story to grandchildren on the other side of the world, and families report that this kind of connection helps sustain and nurture relationships between the generations.

Next month: Internet access and social networking allow many seniors to keep in touch with the world and with friends, but there are pitfalls to keep in mind. Seniors may be targeted by scam artists online. In the June 2010 issue of Choices, read "Keeping Seniors Safe Online" to learn about issues to discuss with your loved one...and suggestions about how to open the conversation.