Social Media for Seniors

Technology is a great way to stay connected with the people around you, including your children or grandchildren. With all of the different free social media platforms available, what social media is the best fit for you? The following examples are a few of our favorite social media platforms that are easy to use and will help you stay connected with your friends and family. 

Benefits of Social Media

Using social media is a great way to have social support from family members and friends. It’s also a great way to maintain relationships with friends who you haven’t seen in a long time. Using social media also allows you to get help from video tutorials or support groups, or even to see breaking news and other important updates.

What Social Media Platforms Should I Use?

If you’re interested in the benefits of social media, you might be wondering what kind of social media platforms to use. Here are a few of our recommendations for free, popular, and easy-to-use social media platforms. 

YouTube

YouTube is another very popular social media platform that is focused on videos. You do not have to have a YouTube account to watch videos, you can simply go to www.YouTube.com and search for any videos you’d like. For example, if you’re interested in watching a cooking show, you can search for cooking videos. If you would like to learn how to play a game, you could watch a tutorial video. You can also search for some of your favorite songs on YouTube to hear them or watch the music video. This platform is so popular and easy to use, and it’s a great way to get started with social media. 

Facebook

Facebook is one of the most popular social media platforms. With Facebook, you can create a profile and connect with other people you know by making a “friend request.” You can make posts with text, photos, and/or videos that are visible to everyone you are friends with on Facebook, and you can see and react to posts that your Facebook friends make. Groups and businesses can also have Facebook. For example, you can “like” our Woodlands Facebook page to learn more about The Woodlands Independent Senior Living. 

Marco Polo

Marco Polo is a popular video messaging app that allows you to have face-to-face conversations on the phone on your own time. It works similar to email, but instead of sending typed messages, you send video messages. When your friend receives your video message, they can send you a video in response that you can watch anytime. This app is very intuitive and easy to use, and it’s a great way to see your friends and family’s faces and hear their voices, even when you can’t be together in person. 

Privacy Tips for Social Media

In the same way that you care about your privacy every day, your privacy matters online, too. Here are a few tips on how to stay secure on social media. 

  1. Choose how much you share:  It’s up to you whether you want to share everything about your life or nothing! No matter what you choose, make sure you don’t post any of your personal information online. Be careful to never share information like your address, current location, banking information, passwords, or social security number on social media. 
  2. Don’t make friends with strangers:  Make sure that you’re only connecting with people that you know on social media. Although the internet is a great way to connect with people you know and love, it’s not the best place for making new friends! Always be careful when talking to strangers online. 
  3. If it’s too good to be true, it might not be!:  Social media is a great place to share photos and stories with your friends, but sometimes people post things on the internet that aren’t true. Be aware of scams and frauds online. If you’re not sure if something is true, it’s best to stay away. 

What is The Woodlands?

The Woodlands is an Independent Senior Housing community where quality, convenience, and the comfort of a caring and vibrant community free you to live your best life. Contact us today with any questions or for more information! You can also connect with us by clicking “Like” on our Facebook page.