Social Media 101

Friend requests, pokes and LOL’s – you may not recognise this terminology, or associate it with your daily life: unless you’re social media savvy.

Almost two thirds of American adults between the ages of 50-64 have a Facebook account, and nearly half over 65 do.  It’s certainly a popular and enduring social media site, with over a billion daily users worldwide.

“Social media” can be blamed for many things, but used properly, it’s a fantastic tool to stay informed, connected and up to date. There are any number of sites, but let’s look at the top ones, in terms of reach, ease of operation and relevance.

Facebook – Create an online profile, connect with friends and family all across the world to share photos, videos, online links and comments, as well as keeping up to date with local, clubs, businesses and events. It is free to join and you can be as visible or invisible as you choose to be. Some people use Facebook to interact widely, others just prefer to see what their friends and family are up to without posting themselves.

Twitter – Create an account and “tweet” just about anything you like using up to 140 characters long. You can tweet photos and videos as well, and “tag” your friends in them. Follow celebrities, companies, brands, and businesses, as well as sharing or favouriting tweets you like. Twitter is fantastic if you are interested in current events – there is no faster way to get your news, and you can follow news sites from all over the world, free.

Instagram – A largely photo sharing site, Instagram is free, easy to use and incredibly popular. You can edit and filter your photos like a pro; it’s interesting for those interested in art, photogrpahy and people watching. Search people in whom you are interested, and ‘follow’ what they are up to in their lives.

Pinterest – Once signed up you can create and share online pin boards of images and things you love. Get creative, find inspiration on anything from, fashion, interior design, gardening and food.

No matter which site appeal to you, here is a quick run down on to best use it, as well as how to get the most out of it.

Do:

– Social media is a fantastic platform to get back in touch with old friends and stay in touch no matter where you all live. Make the most of this feature and search for those long lost companions. There are even groups created to re-unite old school friends and social groups.

– Follow local businesses, groups and classes – Facebook and Twitter can be a great way to support local activities.

– Do what you enjoy. These are only a fraction of the social media sites available to use, free. Other sites include Linkedin for business connections, Match.com for dating, and Vine for videos.

Don’t:

– Don’t pester your kids or grandkids to add you on social media or accept your friend requests.  Don’t be offended, just remember your 21 year old grandson may not want you to see photos from his weekend of partying!

– Don’t worry about using or understanding all the features these sites may use. Sign up to one that interests you and you will get the most out of.

– Don’t feel you have to include all your details when creating accounts – some sites will ask for location, phone numbers email addresses etc. You may need to provide some information to set up and account, but that does not have to be public on the site itself. Check your privacy settings.

Cyber space can be fun and social – explore now!