Granny on Facbook

 Seniors on Facebook, a growing concern for grandchildren everywhere. The concept behind this is that as technology becomes more readily available even the least technologically incline people are now popping up on Facebook. One in three seniors are now on Facebook which is up 150% sense 2009. I have a particularly unique insight to this as my grandmother (Granny) is a daily Facebook user.

No matter how lousy a post, or boring a picture I post to my Facebook wall I am certain to have at least three likes from the same three people. My mother (of course), my great aunt, and my grandmother. I may have my three likes but being the cool cat I am, I also have a comment from Granny.  Sometimes an entire paragraph, but usually just the simple “Hey Jake! Granny is watching you!” Now in any other context I would be completely creeped out by this post, but it's Granny, a senior. That's how they are supposed to behave right?  Well that may be true but question as to why is very important.

It's clear to see that the release of iPads, and simplistic computer applications has allowed this technologically inept group to have full access to these social sites. They were unloaded into an entire online world and the culture that has formed in that world over the last 15 years. Our generation has been involved in online networking essentially sense the mainstream birth of this online world. We have even created the culture with all of its unwritten customs and courtesies, which we have grown up believing to be common knowledge. We now has this plethora of knowledge and experience in something that is still abstract in the mind of somebody who used to have to wind their phone.

Now that these rules of social networking have been established there is enough information to at least form a crash course to teach people these rules associated with social media. Therefore after a few months of Granny wreaking havoc on Facebook, I gave her a little crash course on it. I explained the norms of posting, liking, and sharing. I also taught her a few trick about some more advanced features such as tagging. Finally I explained Facebook security, and the potential for threats. Older people are more likely to fall for online scams, because they are so out of there comfort zone, they really don’t understand what’s so unusual about winning $500 from popping a balloon in a mini game.

Granny, is now a high speed internet using machine… Well not really, but at least she understands how to use it responsibly, without friend requesting every person she meets. If you have the same sort of trouble consider checking out the link I posted below. It’s a step by step guide to teaching old people how to use Facebook. You may think they are harmless now, but just wait until your grandmother starts posting duck face selfies on Instagram. Happy Posting granny.    

http://m.wikihow.com/Teach-Facebook-to-Seniors