The most popular social media platforms and how to use them

THE SOCIAL NETWORK

A breakdown of social media platforms and how best to use them BY: » Renee Roberson

In the last 10 plus years, social media has expanded the capabilities we all have in keeping connected, tracking news headlines and even learning new skills. In general terms, social media refers to websites and applications that enable users to create and share content and participate in social networking.

The most widely used social networking platforms used by people in the 55+ category include Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter. According to a study published by the Pew Institute in 2018, Facebook and YouTube are the two most popular platforms in this age demographic, with 65 percent of participants surveyed using Facebook, 68 percent using YouTube, and 26 percent utilizing Pinterest. As a side note, if you’ve never seen the 2010 film “The Social Network,” written by Aaron Sorkin, it’s a pretty eye-opening account on how Facebook was first started by Mark Zuckerberg and his classmates on the college campus of Harvard University.

Benefits of Using Social Media

The pros to using social media are plentiful; they can help you stay connected with family members, share photos and video among people you know, keep up with trends, learn about new subjects and keep up with happenings in the news. They are also a good place to meet likeminded people (there are an abundance of Facebook sub-groups you can join) and learn about events going on in your community.

Pinterest is a great visual medium that is helpful when vacation planning, finding new recipes and looking for clothing ideas and furniture and design inspiration. It can be a bit tricky to use at first, but once you learn how to create “boards” and “pin” your finds to them, it can become addictive (in a good way!)

Social Media Etiquette When using social media, there are a few do’s and don’ts that will help you better navigate the platforms and keep friendly relations with your friends, children and grandchildren. For example, do keep your posts short, informative and nonjudgmental. In today’s political climate, it can be tempting to share inflammatory news articles or share your thoughts on a specific topic, but your followers may not want to read through a long post, especially if it’s something you do often. You should also make sure a news article source is credible before sharing at the risk of sharing inaccurate information that may upset others. When sharing a picture or video, check with a person you are tagging to make sure they are okay with what you are sharing with your followers. Also, don’t type posts and information all in caps; it can come across like you are yelling at the reader.

Privacy and Safety Tips Scams are abundant on social media. Because of this, you should never share your personal information, such as home address, social security number, driver’s license number, phone number or full birthdate on social networking applications. Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know. Watch what type of personal information you share on the platforms—announcing the dates you are leaving for vacation, for example, could be an invitation for someone to burglarize your home or check your mailbox for secure information. Watch for scams and frauds—if someone shares a coupon that says the first people to share it will receive $100, it’s probably too good to be true and your personal information or account may have been compromised.

As with any activity you engage in, learning and utilizing the various social media platforms can be a fun way to pass the time and engage with others. But learning more about how these platforms work and which ones work best for you will be more beneficial in the long run. And if you hear your grandkids chatting about their Tik Tok and Snapchat accounts, it’s probably best to leave those to the generation more concerned about taking selfies and dance videos of themselves to share with friends.

Here the differences between the free social media platforms available for use:

Facebook is a website that allows users to connect with family and friends and share videos, photos and other information.

Instagram is a video and photo sharing service owned by Facebook.

YouTube is a video-sharing website that makes it easy for users to view video content.

Pinterest is a visual discovery engine that enables users to find and “pin” ideas like recipes, home design inspiration, style and more.

LinkedIn is a social network that focuses professional networking and career development.

Twitter is a microblogging platform that allows you to send a receive short posts called “tweets,” as long as they are no more than 140 characters.

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Let your Freedom Flag FLY

Celebrate the stars and stripes respectfully this 4th of July

BY: » Emily Thomas

D

id you know that there is a proper way to display your American flag? Follow these tips below to make sure your flag flies correctly. •When hung on a surface such as a wall, window or door, the blue corner of the flag (the Union portion) should always be placed to your left. If displayed from a staff the Union should sit at the peak. In any other scenarios that do not involve a staff, make sure to display your flag flat or suspended in a manner in which its folds fall freely. •Flags may be displayed on a vehicle if attached to the front right fender, but should never be placed over the hood, on the back, top or sides of a vehicle, train or boat.

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Handle customs with care •Flag patches may only be worn by military personnel, firefighters, police officers, members of Scouting and patriotic organizations. •When disposing of a flag that is tattered, frayed or no longer appropriate for display, it should be disposed of in a respectful manner, such as burning. You can contact your American Legion post to find out if they have flag disposal ceremonies, or find a Scout troop who can do it for you. •Fold your flag correctly into triangles starting from the stripes edge to the Union facing outwards and secure the folds by tucking the end of the smaller triangle under the larger one.

American flag don’ts •The flag should not be displayed when the weather is inclement unless it is specified as an all-weather flag. •Only display your flag between sunrise and sunset, unless it is illuminated in the dark. •Do not use the flag for any form of advertising, and never attach an advertisement or sign to the flag’s staff or rope.

Julia A. Rossi, AuD

Doctor of Audiology

Sarah Black, AuD

Doctor of Audiology

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