Since I last blogged, I’ve found a few places seniors congregate. I’ve joined the AARP’s online message boards. This is one of the only boards that was active enough to track. I found an online dating site for seniors, but I didn’t join since this would lead to awkward encounters. Pretending to be a senior on a dating site might be a type of ethical violation. Most interestingly, I have been reading a few senior blogs. In general, they are blogs written by seniors for seniors. This doesn’t mean they’re not interesting to everyone else. I haven’t contacted the bloggers yet, but that is the next step in my research. Instead, I’ve been really focusing on the observation part of my ethnography. I look at what seniors do in these spaces and how they talk to each other. Comments on the blogs are a huge way I’ve been able to see the norms of the community. The research has been challenging, but I think ethnographic research is going to be a great way to get all the information I need.
Here are a few questions I’m including in my presentation. Feel free to comment. I’d appreciate hearing what you think/know seniors do online.
Do you know a person over 65 who uses the Internet frequently? What are they doing on the Internet? Do they communicate with other seniors?Do you feel seniors segregate themselves into separate spaces? Should they? EG: Facebook What type of norms does this group violate with their presence online? Do you think that Facebook, Twitter, and online dating are for “young” people? What limitations are there for seniors regarding Internet use? Are there any benefits? What about benefits/limitations for those who grew up with the Internet?
Hey Tom! Just thought I would let you know that I do know a person over 65 that uses the Internet. She is my Grandma. She mainly uses the internet to email family and friends. I don't ever usually go more than a week with out getting an email from her so I would argue that she is a frequent user. Recently she has been asking me to help her get on Facebook. She keeps telling me that many of her friends are on the website and she wants to be able to communicate with them. Another reason she wants to get on the site is so she can look at my pictures from while I was in Mexico. I do not believe that seniors should segregate themselves from others. They have every right to be part of an online community even though it might take a bit extra explaining to help them understand how to use the site. Therefore, I would argue that one of the limitations of seniors on the interent is a fear of technology or a difficulty understanding how to use a computer. I hope my comments here are of some help. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteHey Tom,
ReplyDeleteI thought your presentation was really interesting today because I was under the impression that seniors were virtually absent from the Internet. My grandparents do not even own a computer and would have no idea how to use the Internet. I was also really surprised to hear that grandparents are starting to join facebook. I haven't seen any grandparents on facebook so this was news to me, and I think it's a little weird. I guess it's nice for them to keep in touch with family or old friends, but I still view facebook as something that is intended for younger people, but there's really no reason why older people shouldn't use it too. Good presentation today!
Although I wasn't totally surprised by your presentation the other day, I do not have a grandparent that uses the Internet like many senior citizens do. My grandparents have passed away and probably did not know much about the Internet. Even though I do not have a personal experience with a grandparent, my boyfriend's grandma has a Facebook and we are friends on it. I don't find it too weird, but I would have never thought I would be friends with someone who is like a grandma to me. I think it is good for senior citizens to use the Internet if they want to because they are able to experience things they may have thought would never happen. I also think dating sites for senior citizens provide a good outlet for single senior citizens to get connected with each other. It can be very hard to meet someone when you are single, especially when you are older so I think that using the Internet is a good way for senior citizens to meet each other. We definitely shouldn't judge because someday we will be senior citizens and we will be using the Internet. Maybe by then, it won't be seen as "weird" for senior citizens to use the Internet.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the feedback everyone! I was chatting with my Grandma, and she mentioned that my Grandpa wants to buy a laptop for when they travel because he misses his computer so much! He loves games, and has even subscribed to a website to play them. I'm discovering lots of interesting stories, and I appreciate hearing from other people!
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