Facebook is one of the most popular social networking sites on the internet which allows you to communicate with family and friends, share photos and get all the latest breaking news. It sounds great doesn’t it? However, it can be quite intimidating for those who are new to social media and unfamiliar with the benefits.
It doesn’t matter what age you are – you can learn about technology. A report showed last year that between 2018 and 2017, Facebook users rose to 2.9 million among the 65+ age group. But if you are trying to teach your loved one how to set an account up, the question of “What do I want that for?” is more than likely to arise. If that is the case, you can focus on the many benefits Facebook offers to help persuade them, some of which we have detailed below:
Keeping up to date with Family
Facebook is a an extremely good way for all family members to keep in touch, especially since most people are living busy lives and often spread out geographically! A vast majority of older people can feel lonely and it is important for them to have regular social interactions.
Facebook makes that easy and even if there are family members living thousands of miles away in countries like America or Australia, your loved one can see photos, status updates and stay informed of travels, achievements and exciting news – all without expensive international phone calls.
Reconnecting with Old Friends
Another benefit of social networking is that it allows your loved one to catch up with long lost friends. Many people are reconnecting with old buddies through Facebook and there is no exception for the older generation.
There is no rummaging around for an old address book looking for telephone numbers or trying to remember your friends’ email – all social interaction can be done conveniently through Facebook.
Learning
Your loved one will have wisdom that is irreplaceable and intensely valuable, but there is always something new to learn. Facebook is full of interesting new articles, blogs and groups.
It is an excellent resource for researching a health issue, asking for recommendations or discovering a new hobby or activity. There are many opportunities to get involved with people who share the same interests as your loved one from different backgrounds and can create a sense of community, education and purpose.
Special Promotions and Discounts
There are so many special deals, vouchers or discount codes which can be found on Facebook, which makes saving just that little bit easier! Businesses are always running competitions to win things like a free meal or tickets to a theatre show. These competitions are accessible and free to enter and if you are lucky enough to win, it is something extra to add to the calendar and look forward to.
Security
There is nothing magical or strange about Facebook, but it is important to address a big concern with your loved one, which will likely be security. For a lot of older people, the worry of personal details being on the internet or falling victim of a scam can cause a feeling of anxiousness.
Explain that Facebook is a completely free resource and they do not need to enter any financial information at any stage. Reassure them about the privacy settings available and explain that they can decide how private their page is. If they only want family members as friends or don’t want to appear in a public search – they can make those specifications.
Closing Comments on Facebook
For the reasons listed above, Facebook can be a useful tool for your loved one to utilise. It allows users to socialise as part of a community and can lessen feelings of loneliness for those who spend much of their time at home.
If you feel like your loved one would benefit from a little extra security at home, a personal alarm is a great idea. If you have any questions about our service, please do get in touch with our Customer Service Team on 0808 304 4168 or via email at info@careline.co.uk
