Social Media for Baby Boomers

Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.
― Samuel Johnson, The Rambler
Social Media

Forms of electronic communication through which users
create online communities to share information, ideas,
personal messages, and other content. ~ Merriam-Webster
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rustybadger/2775486094/
What is social media?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kitcowan/2103850699/
REASON #1
“We have technology,
finally, that for the first
time in human history,
allows people to really
maintain rich connections
with much larger numbers
of people.”
~ Pierre Omidyar, founder of eBay
Why should I care?

http://www.slideshare.net/mzkagan/what-is-social-media-2005829
Reason #2

Reason #3

Reason #4

Social media engages people – smashing generational,
educational and socio-political boundaries.
Social Media is a Conversation

Social media
is flexible,
responsive,
engaging,
and inclusive

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reneelightyear/453494539/sizes/z/in/photostream/
Don’t let shiny technology drive your choices or deter you
- the toys are destined for obsolescence
Taming Technolust

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ben_grey/4582294721
Social construction of knowledge through human interaction
Social media supports:
1. Creating connections between subjects, concepts and ideas.
2. Diversity of opinion and inquiry.
3. Convenient access to current knowledge and specialized resources.
4. Why we join a social media service is more important than which service.
Participatory Learning

• Our youngest people have
spent their entire lives using
technology.
• 80% of children younger
than 5 use the internet
(2011).
~ Gutnick, Aviva Lucas, et. al. “Always
Connected: The new digital media habits
of young children.” The Joan Gantz Cooney
Center at Sesame Workshop. March 2011.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/demandaj/5982440920/
Digital Natives

72% of online adults use social media
Social technologies are related to trust,
tolerance, social support, community and
political engagement:
•
The average user of a social networking site
has more close ties and is half as likely to be
socially isolated as the average American
•
Facebook users are more trusting and have
more close relationships than others
•
Internet users get more support from their
social ties and Facebook users get the most
support
•
Facebook users are much more politically
engaged than most people
•
Facebook revives “dormant” relationships
Pew Internet and American Life Project http://pewinternet.org/Commentary/2012/March/Pew-Internet-Social-Networking-full-detail.aspx
Social Impact

Americans age 65+ are enthusiastic emailers and information searchers.
Online engagement drops significantly beyond age 75. Only 1/3 of people 75+ are digitally
connected.
Learn > Practice > Teach

Interests
Politics: social networking sites have become an important additional arena for politics. They are a resource
for political news, information, finding likeminded issue-oriented people, and a tool for voter outreach in
the run-up to elections. Pew http://
pewinternet.org/Commentary/2012/March/Pew-Internet-Social-Networking-full-detail.aspx
•
Online book clubs.
•
Genealogical research.
•
Travel groups, photos and communities.
•
Support groups = medical, life changes, financial.

1. Share your unique voice.
2. Be generous.
3. Ask for opinions or advice.
4. Listen, respond and follow back.
5. Friend or follow people you don’t know yet.
6. Be a cheerleader in your online community.
7. Surprise and delight people.
8. Share your own photos and ideas.
9. Ask for help.
Be Social

http://www.flickr.com/photos/28481088@N00/1932087056/
Explore
Try some new tools
You can’t fail

http://www.flickr.com/photos/activeside/2367540964/
Developing Your Learning and Sharing Network
“self-controlled, life-long learning”

Best Practices
1. There is no anonymity.
2. Online lives forever.
3. Keep protected, identifying information
off social media.
4. Create separate professional and
personal accounts.
5. Your impression of other people is
formed by what you learn about them.
6. Their impression of you is influenced by
what/how you share.
7. Promote a non-threatening
environment, that supports the sharing of
ideas and collaborative learning.
http://wodumedia.com/wp-content/uploads/Manila-Philippines-a-woman-and-her-dog-dress-up-as-superheroes-for-a-fashion-show.jpg

Often ask for your birthday: up to you if
you want to share. Used to market to you
and customize advertising.
You can use a fake birthday, but be sure
to write it down, as you will need it if you
need to reactivate an account or get
password assistance.
Phishing: a scam that attempts to obtain
personal information. You may receive
email or communications from
people/organizations you don’t know
after signing up for social media
accounts. You can avoid this scam by
opening a free, online email account like
Gmail.
Social media is about sharing within the
online community, not through personal
email. General rule of thumb: delete
messages from people you don’t know.
Do not open an email or other message
from mystery people.
Security

http://www.flickr.com/photos/surlamer/3468959699
Social Media Care and Feeding
How many hours can I devote?
What do I want to accomplish?
Who do I want to interact with?

Keys to Success
1. Experiment personally and professionally.
2. Be honest and transparent – identify yourself.
3. Make some friends and ask questions.
4. Try a few different tools.
5. Contribute your original ideas.
6. Share and give credit to others.
http://www.slideshare.net/tactica_inc/the-conversation-an-introduction-to-
social-media-presentation

Google
• Free.
• Can restrict access to specific users or open for the whole world.
• Upload documents from your computer or create new in Google Drive.
• Share and edit Word documents, spreadsheets, Powerpoint presentations.
• Create websites or discussion groups.
• Use Google+ to connect with friends or family.
• Google Hangouts are free video phone calls.
• Moderate = lots of tools to learn, but easy to learn.

Facebook
• Social networking service.
• Connect and share photos and life events.
• Share what you are doing, with whom and where you are located.
• Provide reviews of places and services.
• Use Groups to invite specific members (book club, class reunion).

Twitter
• Open to the world – others
follow you.
• Use hashtag (#) for content
topics that others can follow.
• Follow a professional or
famous person, create lists of
people or companies to
follow.
• Networking, find webinars
or interesting tutorials.
• Tweet = real-time Q&A.
• Personal or professional.
• Easy = create an account,
tweet, follow others.

• A free, popular platform to publish
content and share it.
• Easy to update, no web design or
technical knowledge needed.
• Can invite others to be authors on
your blog.
• Comment on interesting videos
and content on the web.
• Requires time to build the
community.
• Try Wordpress or Tumblr to get
started.
Blogs

Flickr, YouTube
• Share photos or video for select people or open to the world.
• Tag and organize media.
• Large images or video can be shared with others – no need to email.
• Easy = create an account, upload still or moving images.

Goodreads
• Online book club.
• Connect with friends, authors and other bibliophiles.
• Reviews and recommendations.
• Submit your review of a book or author.

Pinterest
• The online bulletin board.
• Pin interesting images, art or design ideas.
• Categorize and organize into a photo journal.
•Create a collection of scholarly articles.
• Easy = create an account, pin something.
http://mashable.com/2012/04/10/pinterest-teachers/

Instagram
• Photo sharing site using your mobile phone.
• Popular with people 14 years and younger.
• Save and print photos from others.

Dropbox
• Store and share large files online.
• Use the online tool or download to your computer for auto synchronization.
• Caution: not for protected information.
• Easy = create an account, upload stuff, share.

Open Learning Communities
1. Coursera.
2. Khan Academy.
3. Open Learning Initiative.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/gaspi/12944421/
Play — the capacity to
experiment with one’s
surroundings as a form of
problem-solving.
~ Henry Jenkins
Jenkins: Confronting the Challenges of Participatory
Culture: http://www.projectnml.org/node/540
Play = Learning

Learn, Do, Teach
Share your knowledge with others.
Only 1/3 of people older than 77
are online: these are most
vulnerable when isolated. Help them
to order groceries online, pay bills,
make doctor appointments, sell stuff
on eBay.
Play = Learning
http://newoldage.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/online-habits-coming-slowly-to-older-adults/

https://flic.kr/p/73rBa
SeniorNet offers two learning
centers here in Ariz.:
Fountain Hills - FTH
Fountain Hills Community Center, Fountain Hills
Phone: 480-816-9645
Coordinator: Ralph Craner ( ralphc35@earthlink.net)
Sponsors: Fountain Hills Community Center
Website: http://www.fhseniornet.orgSeniorNet Website
Scottsdale - SDL
Scottsdale Senior Center Computer Learning Centers
Phone: 480-312-5810
Coordinator: Barbara Despenza
Sponsors: City of Scottsdale Senior Centers
Website: http://
www.scottsdaleaz.gov/seniors/classes/computers.asp
Play = Learning
Your Public Library also provides computer classes:
http://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/ServicesForYou/Computer-Classes

Social Media
1. Google email and hangouts
2. Twitter: http://twitter.com
3. Facebook: http://facebook.com
4. Blogs: http://wordpress.com
5. Still and Moving Images: http://flickr.com, http://youtube.com,
http://pikasa.google.com, http://vimeo.com
6. Goodreads
7. Pinterest: http://pinterest.com
8. Instagram
9. Dropbox: http://dropbox.com
10. Open Learning: http://www.ihi.org, http://www.khanacademy.org, http://
www.coursera.org, http://oli.cmu.edu/
Try one and share with someone else!

Social Media for Baby Boomers

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