Online activities of older population on social net works

Abstract

Old age is considered as a period of life when each individual is at risk of social isolation due to a breakdown in communication with his or hers long-standing social environment, and the decrease of contact with relatives and friends. However, older people can make a significant contribution to society by refusing to be isolated. Thanks to the advancement of technology and the emergence of the Internet, social media offers a platform for online social networking. The association of older population through social media, in particular through online social networks, enables participants to achieve the appropriate economic and social roles and reduce the sense of loneliness, isolation and depression. The primary goal of this paper is to point out the necessity of the social connection of the elderly, with particular emphasis on the role of online social networks. The paper seeks answers to several questions: How does the isolation affect the elderly? Can social media provide the necessary interaction with this population and to what extent are the members of the older population willing to accept online social networks. This paper presents the latest research carried out in the US, the EU and Serbia, on the activities of older population on online social networks.

Keywords

• elderly
• social networking
• social isolation
• social media
• online social networks