Setting Up Social Media Accounts
Suggest that older adults start with one social media platform and get comfortable with it before considering using additional ones.
What questions do you think you would need to ask users before you help them with their social networks? Here are a few to start:
- Why do you want to use a social network? What's your end goal?
- How familiar are you with technology and social platforms?
- What social platforms do you know others are using?
- Are there specific groups or people you want to connect with? Things you would like to learn more about?
- What platforms do you think you would be interested in?
What would you add to this list? What additional questions does the last discussion activity prompt?
Resources
You don't have to start from scratch. Other groups have created resources you can use to help older adults learn about social media. You can incorporate them into your work or use them to inform your own resources that you create.
Review the video resources below. What other videos can you find online that help explain social media concepts clearly? You may also want to consider co-creating a similar YouTube Channel that you can all use when you work with adults, English Language Learners, and Seniors. It is always helpful to have something to return to if you forget what you learned during your session.
This is lengthy video about social media from a teen group that works with senior citizens. Because it's long, consider watching it at 1.5 speed! (Click on the Settings wheel. Select Playback speed.)
Teeniors: Tech Savvy Teens Empowering Seniors
These teens created a YouTube channel to help senior citizens. These videos are created as micro-pd: short videos on a single topic. Some of these videos are related to social media and you may choose to use them with participants.