This year, some of the nearly 80 million Baby Boomers in the United States have turned 65 and are now “officially” senior citizens. Need context? Vint Cerf, Google’s chief Internet evangelist and one of the fathers of the Internet, turns 68 in June. The web, often viewed as a realm for just the young, is getting older.
The Boomer generation isn’t just big — it’s made up of people who think and act differently than previous generations. As Boomers confront “old age,” they will certainly defy what we think it means to “get old.” It will challenge us to rethink how we use the web and how we engage older people with newer technologies.
Connecting With Frien ds and Loved Ones Through Social Media
It’s no secret that senior citizens have typically been slow to use new technologies, including social media. But recent trends show older people are among the fastest-growing demographics online. Social network use among Internet users 50 years old and older has nearly doubled to 42% over the past year. In fact, in the U.S. alone there are nearly 16 million people 55 and older using Facebook.
One of the main drivers is the ability to connect with friends and family, as well as share experiences with strangers and new friends. Hesitation to go online is often not because of lack of interest but because many technologies and social networks are not developed with older people in mind.
With numerous social media profiles on Facebook and Twitter, the AARP provides an excellent example of how one large organization is reaching out to older people who are savvy with digital. To create conversation online, the AARP focuses...
