FACEBOOK – Passing the TIME!
TWITTER – Catching up on the NEWS?
INSTAGRAM – PICTURE surfing?
LINKEDIN – Looking for EMPLOYMENT?
The list goes on and on, so many social media platforms to choose from and share ideas, thoughts, feelings, photos, frustrations, recipes, sayings and more.
An article by the Canadian Press published in March of this year stated “on average, anglophone Canadians who were surveyed spent 24.5 hours online per week in 2016, up about two hours from the previous year. Canadians between the ages of 18 to 34 spent even more time on the Internet — an average of 34 hours per week in 2016, or nearly five hours per day (Thomson, A, 2017).” The article goes on to say that use of the internet is up among seniors stating “74 per cent of people aged 65 and older were using the Internet regularly in 2016, up from about 54 per cent 10 years ago. That made it the highest growth in any age category (Thomson, A. 2017).” Click here to read the full article.
Social media use is fine, if a limit is set and individuals remember that human interaction is of utmost importance and that we humans can’t survive without it. Having said that I think internet use among seniors is great, it allows them to travel the world virtually if they so desire and are unable to do so physically. My own mother, well into her 70’s learned how to use a computer and surf the news sites, she loved it and loved to read, she also mastered the use of Skype and was able to chat with grandchildren whom did not live close by. Social media and internet use among seniors is a great way to fend off loneliness and isolation; it can keep them connected to family and friends who may have moved away. BUT, we still need to reach out to our elders and each other.
The article states some individuals spend 34 hours per week on line; I am hoping this is work related and not use of their spare time. I spend this much time in a work week at my computer and /or online, but ensure on a daily basis that I get some form of physical activity. Whether it be walking my dog, or a trip to the gym. Getting out in nature and socializing are very important for all.
Me & my dog Shadow! (Keeshond)
Social media is fun, informative, current, instant and the opportunity to learn new things is endless, for this reason I embrace it. From this course I hope to learn how to expand on my current social media knowledge. I do work in the field, but learning and expanding our minds is a life long journey to be embraced, just remember to get outside and enjoy nature.
WHO HAVE YOU REACHED OUT TO TODAY?
DID YOU STEP AWAY FROM YOUR PHONE/TABLE/COMPUTER?
REFERENCES
Thomson, A. (March 21, 2017). Canadians spend more time online at expense of face-to-face time. Retrieved from http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/canadians-spend-more-time-online-at-expense-of-face-to-face-time-1.3333902
Algonquin College Social Media Certificate Program 