Eric Zorn in his blog, Change of Subject, of Sept 3, refers to Aylin Zafars article where she discusses the increasing use of Social Media.
From Aylin Zafar's Atlantic article, "Facebook for Centenarians: Senior Citizens Learn Social Media."
Social networking is proving to be not just a way to exercise the mind, but a way to lift spirits and boost morale. But in order for older adults to get the full benefits of these platforms, companies need to understand the way in which older adults engage with these sites. Without making some accommodations to the specific needs of older adults, tech giants could be missing a huge market.
"Facebook, even Gmail -- it's ridiculous that they haven't created easier user interfaces," says Cotten, who is planning on writing a Google grant that would help developers understand the specific aspects of the user interface that prove problematic for older adults. "There are a lot of small, niche companies out there who are [catering to older adults' needs]. They're creating their own very basic email services, social networking sites, etc., with easier-to-use interfaces. Generations Online is one of those companies that have done that."
Generations Online simplifies the Internet for older adults, creating easy-to-use, intuitive interfaces for services like email and general Web surfing. In effect, they live up to their motto of being "devoted to Internet literacy and access for the paper generation;" emails take on the visual appearance of postcards, while Outlook address books transform into rolodexes, helping users cross the digital divide.
Judging from the feedback of older users about the impact of social networking and its benefits on the morale and mental health of seniors, you'd think that companies like Facebook would be considering interfaces that would be better suited for the senior experience.
Older adults and younger users use Facebook differently; younger users use the service as a celebration of self, a place to post about their life, their friends, pictures, updates, check-ins, says Coughlin. The 50-plus group uses it to connect with new people with similar interests, to seek out information about health care, caregiving, and find communities to belong to, in addition to the pleasure gained from seeing photos of family and friends.
For the rest of the post go here
More than just a tool or channel for information, the Internet (and social networking, more specifically) has become a way for aging adults to connect to their loved ones and maintain their communities and relationships in ways more powerful than anything they ever imagined.....
An upcoming study to be published by Dr. Shelia Cotten, a sociologist and Associate Professor from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, reveals that Internet use was associated with a 30 percent decrease in depressive symptoms among older adults who used it regularly, while other studies have shown similarly impressive results.
The 74-plus demographic is the fastest growing demographic among social networks, according to the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, and social networking among Internet users ages 65 and older grew 100 percent between April 2009 and May 2010, jumping from 13 percent to 26 percent. Facebook, Twitter, and Skype all show the most growth in the older adult demographic and with 39 million people currently aged 65 and older -- and an estimated 55 million by 2020 -- social networks are sure to continue to see a surge in their older base
An upcoming study to be published by Dr. Shelia Cotten, a sociologist and Associate Professor from the University of Alabama, Birmingham, reveals that Internet use was associated with a 30 percent decrease in depressive symptoms among older adults who used it regularly, while other studies have shown similarly impressive results.
The 74-plus demographic is the fastest growing demographic among social networks, according to the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project, and social networking among Internet users ages 65 and older grew 100 percent between April 2009 and May 2010, jumping from 13 percent to 26 percent. Facebook, Twitter, and Skype all show the most growth in the older adult demographic and with 39 million people currently aged 65 and older -- and an estimated 55 million by 2020 -- social networks are sure to continue to see a surge in their older base
"Facebook, even Gmail -- it's ridiculous that they haven't created easier user interfaces," says Cotten, who is planning on writing a Google grant that would help developers understand the specific aspects of the user interface that prove problematic for older adults. "There are a lot of small, niche companies out there who are [catering to older adults' needs]. They're creating their own very basic email services, social networking sites, etc., with easier-to-use interfaces. Generations Online is one of those companies that have done that."
Generations Online simplifies the Internet for older adults, creating easy-to-use, intuitive interfaces for services like email and general Web surfing. In effect, they live up to their motto of being "devoted to Internet literacy and access for the paper generation;" emails take on the visual appearance of postcards, while Outlook address books transform into rolodexes, helping users cross the digital divide.
Judging from the feedback of older users about the impact of social networking and its benefits on the morale and mental health of seniors, you'd think that companies like Facebook would be considering interfaces that would be better suited for the senior experience.
Older adults and younger users use Facebook differently; younger users use the service as a celebration of self, a place to post about their life, their friends, pictures, updates, check-ins, says Coughlin. The 50-plus group uses it to connect with new people with similar interests, to seek out information about health care, caregiving, and find communities to belong to, in addition to the pleasure gained from seeing photos of family and friends.
For the rest of the post go here
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