Social medias impact on elderly

 

                                           Social medias impact on elderly        

It can be hard for older people to keep up with the changes in technology these days. I can totally agree with them, because even I, as a young adult can't keep up with the changes.😃

Loneliness is a common feeling among elderly. I think that social media can help with that. It is easy to interact with peers and loved ones these days, thanks to technology and social media.

Feeling connected is very important to any senior’s wellbeing. Social media allows the senior to make plans with others to meet up outside of the home. It also allows seniors who are unable to leave home to socialize online to combat loneliness.

I found this research online that said that social media can reduce the risk of depression for older people with pain.

"Among people with pain, the rate of depression was lower with social media use. Six percent of those who used social media also reported symptoms of depression, compared with 15 percent of those who didn't use social media."
Downsides of social media for elderly?

Financial Scams

These type of scams are super common and elderly are at a high risk of falling for a message, e-mail or advertisement asking for money, particularly if it pretends to be from a family member or loved one. 

Misinformation and Propaganda

I have seen many misinformative things when surfing on the internet. Seniors should be aware that certain headlines can be false or inaccurate. Major news networks and political figures can send information to support their respective causes and beliefs, but individuals need to determine between news that is helpful and objective versus biased and deceitful.

Anxiety and Lowered Self-Esteem

In Social media it is easy to fake your life experiences and make it seem like you are the happiest, most beautiful and important person alive. Social media platforms, like Facebook, can cause seniors to have false illusions that other people are happier or more fulfilled than them. They can compare themselves to others, witch can lead to anxiety, depression and lowered self-esteem.

References

https://www.visitingangels.com/knowledge-center/senior-health-and-well-being/social-media-impact-on-seniors/525

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-seniors-social-media/social-media-may-reduce-depression-risk-for-older-people-with-pain-idUSKCN1MK2LN/