It’s time for me to admit the favorite time of my day is not posting on Facebook, tweeting and retweeting and reevaluating my profile on LinkedIn. I’m confused on tinyurls and the need for #FF so everyone knows it’s Friday. I have a Klout score but I don’t know how I got it and as far as Facebook goes, while I try to post the articles I write, no one seems to read them and instead, my friends post jokes and comments on bad days, birthdays and wow did you see that? I have been trying to create a Google+ hangout for a week now and I’ve just about given up!
How dare I make these statements?
It’s simple really—I’m a baby boomer and I fear digital media almost as much as when it was first rumored the Beatles were breaking up!
Growing up in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, my parents had four daughters born between the years 1949 and 1959—I being the last born. Even though I could probably cheat my way into Gen X, those born from 1964 and forward, I must admit, I fear their digital media knowledge.
I found an awesome post on baby boomers and digital media by Jamie Carracher on Mashable. In his story “How Baby Boomers Are Embracing Digital Media,” he points out in 2011 there were 80 billion baby boomers turning 65, who are essentially now old folks or senior citizens. At 53 years of age, I feel their pain because I am close behind. Carracher also reminded us who are media-handicapped that the father of the Internet, Vinton Gray “Vint” Cerf will be 69 years old in 2012 so he’s been a senor for a while now. I wonder how he’s coping?
Carracher admits seniors are using some media: “…recent trends show older people are among the fastest-growing demographics online” and “Internet users 50 years old and older has nearly doubled to 42% over the past year (2011). And, that “In the U.S. alone there are nearly 16 million people 55 and older using Facebook.”
I must protest Jamie sir! Ever seek out those 55 and older and take a gander at their Facebook pages? You’ll find sonograms of grandbabies, wedding photos and announcements and well, maybe even a few angry parents shooting a laptop or two. What I see when I look at my friends who are my age and older are posts on “Let’s do lunch” or “Heck you finally figured out Facebook!” or “Isn’t it nice to be retired?” That’s not using digital or social media—we of this age are now boring and turn to the fodder from our children and grandchildren in an attempt to be Internet savvy.
My husband recently gave me a new car. It’s a 2011 Chrysler 300C Hemi with an 8 cylinder engine. The car practically drives itself, has parking assist and I can even push a button and have cold air flow upward in my driver’s seat in case I’m having a hot flash. There’s even a button to keep my drink cups hot or cold. It also has voice commands in case I’m too lazy to press buttons. For example I can say, “Navigation” or “Phone” or “Climate” and the friendly voice will ask how they can help me. This means I have to say something back. Since my dogs (I have six) travel with me a lot, the commands given are usually barks or woofs and the computer in my car says, “Canceling Voice Chat!” so I’m back to relying on buttons again.
A typical trip in my car alone requires me to file a “flight plan.” Are the seats adjusted, are my mirrors where I want them to be? Where’s that button to move the steering wheel and adjustable pedals? Where’s the fuel button to open the fuel door in case I have to get gas? And, since I don’t need a key (you just step on the brakes and press a button) I have to ensure my keys are in the vicinity of the vehicle such as my purse. I have to set up navigation favorites because the computer won’t let me change where I want to go while driving—I can, however, change if I’m stopped at a traffic light, but heck, I’m almost a senior citizen and my mind isn’t that fast!
Of course many of you are probably saying, “You can preset all those things!” Well, I know that! I’m not stupid, I just don’t want to sit in front of my TV and watch an hour long DVD on how everything in my car works! I want to read about it—but the manual is the DVD! I’ve tried to pair my phone to UConnect several times and have failed so I’m starting to think those headsets you clip to your phone with a super magnet will work just fine.
These are just the tech things in my car! Can you image what I face daily on the World Wide Web? At least good old Jaime Carracher offered in his post the American Association for Retired People (AARP) is taking advantage of Facebook and Twitter. According to Carracher, “One recent post (Facebook) on people who have given up landlines for mobile phones sparked 138 comments.” That amount of comments doesn’t seem high to me when you consider the number of hours folks spend on YouTube. The point of Carracher’s observations are the words “one recent post”; one doesn’t impress me much. Get back to me when every AARP Facebook post receives a comment—even two.
Then there’s Twitter where I’m supposed to spread the word about what’s up right now in 140 characters or less, and use a tinyurl! As far as Twitter goes, I can Tweet, but attempting to @tweet someone or #something is lost on this almost-senior.
Further, what is Klout anyway? Apparently my score isn’t as high as some of my writing colleagues and actually, I don’t care. Google+ seems to be taking over and if you’re not +oneing—you better start now! It doesn’t matter what you +one, just make sure it’s something you’re interested in so if questioned on your post, you can provide a knowledgeable answer.
I’m lost on LinkedIn and this is one digital social media venue that wants my money in order to see total profiles and contact others who are LinkedIn—sorry folks, I only go for the free digital media. So again, my LinkedIn page is in bad shape.
I’m sure somewhere out in digital media world there are folks like Carracher who writes a blog “Aging Online” and a visit to his blog left me feeling a little better about my digital media use and knowledge. I am not alone! My sister is also a writer and I remember a few years back when I was helping her figure out how to install a computer program. I told her to put the CD in her computer tower where the CD slot was. Bless her soul, she told me her computer didn’t have a “tire.”
Of course the anonymity of the Internet will keep me forever young and I can be as pretty and sassy as I want to be. No one need know I’m a grandmother or that watching Swamp People on the History channel is more exciting to me than watching American Idol on Hulu. You know, in reality the reason I like Swamp People is the people who appear on the show have thick Louisiana accents so the show comes with subtitles—yep my hearing isn’t what it used to be either.
Someday, when my grandson is 18, I hope I am still on top of what’s new in digital media. I guess if I stay involved in top trends, actually partake in some tutorials and ensure Carracher’s blog is my new BFF, I’ll be fine. But if not, I’m okay with that too. Oops, time for my afternoon nap. Till next time!
Image Credit: Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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