Page 34 - Seniorstoday January 2024 Issue
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Facebook feed. In a space often dominated inclusion for all age groups. Youngsters
by the younger crowd, who says the over- often turn to diverse media platforms to feel
65ers can’t make their mark. a sense of oneness with friends, family, and
My grandparents are the active soul- brands they follow.
stirrers of our WhatsApp family group, The same goes for older adults. From
sharing nuggets of daily wisdom, adorable staying connected to long-distance friends,
couple shots at cafes, side-splitting short organizing catch-ups, and discovering
videos, and even detailed culinary expertise community groups of like-minded
through voice notes. Without them, the individuals, the online social world has the
only noise in our group would be that of power to potentially build your social life
crickets. when physical challenges creep in.
On a couple of occasions, I’ve observed
my grandmother lovingly gazing at photos Rekindle old connections
of loved ones shared on WhatsApp. Social media plays a pivotal role in not
It’s a scene that never fails to tug at the only sparking new friendships but also
heartstrings, showcasing the emotional rekindling long-lost ones.
richness social media can bring into our No strangers to reaching out to old pals,
lives. the younger generation effortlessly sends
Even video conferencing regularly messages like, “It’s been a while. Wanna
through Skype helps bridge the distance hang?” But the same can’t be said about
between granny and grandkids (who, seniors. Their friendships were primarily
more often than not, reside overseas). The forged in person, and if the connection fell
face-to-face contact, albeit virtual, ignites apart, there was no guarantee they’d cross
immediate comfort, enabling seamless paths again. The good news is social media,
reunions when physical distance finally especially Facebook, has been changing
fades away. this somewhat bleak narrative.
All you have to do is create your Facebook
Beat loneliness account, key in your long-lost friend’s
Image – Rubik’s cube social media name in the search box, and send them a
As the years pass us by, our social message expressing your wish to connect.
connections trickle down to a handful, Remember to upload a clear profile picture
and the first hints of loneliness set in. of yourself and include a brief introduction
This could be for many reasons—close so they can easily recall you.
friends pass away, family members get Most importantly, be patient since
busy raising their family, and loved ones people can take a while to respond. You
scatter around the world. If you’re lucky don’t know everyone’s comfort level with
enough to have friends and family near, online interaction, and the last thing you’ll
sometimes busy schedules, mobility issues, want is to drive them away with constant
and illnesses could act as rigid barriers to messaging. Once they do reply, take the
spending quality time. opportunity to reminisce about shared
Social media platforms like Facebook experiences and embark on a journey back
and Instagram provide a sure-shot way in time. Every age group deserves to feel the
to combat loneliness and improve social enveloping comfort of genuine friendships.
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