Top Social Media Sites that Help Seniors Stay Connected

Whether your loved ones are just a few miles down the road or across the country, you can connect with them using a variety of technology options. These options include e-mail and instant messaging, as well as social media. While you may already have a Facebook account, there are other platforms which are easy and fun to use.

Simple Platforms

If you’re not interested in constant website updates or learning how to use several features, there are websites which are simple to use. These accounts take very little time to set up and maintain, making them ideal for you if you’re not a large fan of technology.

Twitter

With Twitter, you are limited to 140 characters, making the posts very fast to read. If you want to share a post, all you need to do is click a button and confirm. You can also organize the list of people you follow, which allows you to see your preferred posts first and foremost.

The phone app is easy to use, allowing you to stay up-to-date on your news sites and celebrities while away from your computer.

Consider this your electronic version of a dream board or wish list. You can search for your interests and then add them to your board. Share them with friends or even shop directly from the site. You can organize your pins into categories, allowing you to find that ideal recipe quickly and easily.

If you just need a laugh, Pinterest is a place to go for that too. You can find funny jokes as well as the newest memes, helping you stay current with modern internet trends.

Intermediate Platforms

These platforms may have a bit of a learning curve and take some time to get used to, but they’re not out of reach for your average user. If you get stuck, there are always help guides available.

Instagram

If you have a cell phone with a camera and want to share photos with your family and friends, you may want to consider signing up for Instagram. You can have up to ten photos on each post, and there are filters you can use to edit the pictures. You can also create a slideshow for your family and friends to see. It disappears after 24 hours, so make sure they know to look for it!

Snapchat

Similar to Instagram, Snapchat allows you to share funny filters with your family and friends. The privacy feature of Snapchat ensures that photos are not available for others to exploit. The catch of this feature?

The picture disappears once it is viewed. If you want to keep the picture of your family member with puppy ears and a dog nose, make sure you save it to your desktop or phone. Alternatively, you can create a slideshow story, similar to Instagram, and it’ll remain for 24 hours.

Advanced Platforms

If you’re up for a challenge, consider a social media platform that is designed for advanced users. These may require longer time spent reading posts or have a larger learning curve for learning to use them.

Just because you’re over 65 doesn’t mean you’re not keeping up-to-date with the movers and shakers of the business world. This site allows you to view and post resumes, as well as connect with business owners and employees around the world.

The site can be a challenge to use, especially if the person you’re trying to find doesn’t have an identifying picture. Also, if you don’t pay for some features, they are very limited, making it less than ideal for non-paying users.

Quora

This question-and-answer site is popular among those looking to anonymously or publicly ask for thoughts from others. From doctors and lawyers to your average John Doe, there are a variety of people giving reading questions and giving their thoughts.

You can post a profile with links to your organization, gaining followers along the way. The site can be challenging to navigate at times, and there are no limits to the length of a post, making it difficult to engage at times. You also need to use some discretion, as not all of the posts are family-friendly or safe for work.

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