Social media :
It ’ s not just for kids anymore
Metro Creative Connection
Perhaps due to the popularity of social media among a generation of young people who grew up with it , platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are often associated with people born in the 21st century . However , a 2018 study from the Pew Institute found that 65 % of adults between the ages of 50 and 64 used Facebook and 68 % used YouTube .
Social media is often on the receiving end of negative attention , but it ' s also a potentially valuable tool that can help men and women over 50 stay connected with their communities . That ' s not always so easy for adults who no longer have children at home . And as its name suggests , social media can help users connect with others who share their interests . Such connections also can be hard to make for adults over 50 .
Adults over 50 may be more comfortable with social media now than they were a decade ago , but it ' s still a good idea to brush up on basic security measures that can help men and women protect their privacy as they utilize platforms like Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
— Protect your personal information . No social media user has the right to access your personal information , including your address , date of birth or other data unique to you . Avoid interacting with anyone who requests personal information , employing the function to block such users from connecting with you when possible . It ' s also important to keep information about travel plans private . For example , sharing details of an upcoming vacation can serve notice to potential criminals that no one will be in your house , making it a potential target for burglars .
— Aim for quality , not quantity , when building social media networks . Avoid accepting friend requests from individuals you don ' t know . Cyber criminals often gain access to victims via social media , so limit your social media network to people you know and trust .
— Turn off location information . The technology behind social media is impressive and even makes it possible to determine where users are when they tweet or post to other platforms . But many users , especially those concerned about their privacy , don ' t want to share location information with anyone , much less strangers . Turn off location information and routinely double check to make sure it ' s still turned off .
— Discuss others ' privacy concerns before posting to social media . Social media isn ' t for everyone , and some people may not want photos of themselves or their children posted to platforms like Facebook or Instagram . Prior to posting pictures or information about other people , confirm that they ' re OK with you doing so .
Adults over 50 are engaging with social media . But no matter how comfortable users become , it ' s still best to keep various social media safety protocols in mind .
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