Facebook for Senior Citizen

Social media such as Facebook has become an oasis for senior citizen. It is not because they are getting neglected by people around. It is because they had been accustomed to be busy with routine work that involved occupational work routine. Moreover, their leg movement has somewhat been restricted. Apart from reading newspapers, watching TV and hearing music of their choice, they need a respite of intellectual kind. They need to exchange ideas and feelings which could take form of a poem, an essay or a blog. A poem encourages wandering in dream areas that could be the landscape in front or the entire universe. An essay launches mindset in areas specialized during age of hectic activity. The blog dwells in autobiography and a dip into present experiences. One could post picture and videos too. Such efforts are easy to grasp.

Mark Zuckerberg has been all along making Facebook congenial to the need of all ages. It had been possible to connect oneself with those around and those who were forgotten somewhere along the track. The platform pleasantly connects with family members, friends, associates and colleagues irrespective of age, color and creed. However, it also teaches the way to behave in a public platform where possibly four generations are interacting and watching each other. Nobody could be indecent or obscene. This is great.

Of late, a few aberrations are making this social media murky and suspicious. People are posting religious posters and political propaganda. They are trying to force their mindset by asking to share. A few become vulnerable to fake news. They get frightened and in the course try to frighten others. Before posting such news, one should ascertain the authenticity of such fake news. It is easy. Just copy the title or some keywords and paste it on the browser. If the news is genuine, some established newspaper or media would certainly have it within their fold.

There are persons who put the stamp of  “like” on others posts so that the other would also reciprocate. Such people do not go into details. Their objective is to get as many likes as possible.

There are persons who post very healthy and informative material. It could be critical analysis of trending news. It could be literal flights such as poems, stories, blogs or essays. These efforts are not just for occupying space on the raster. In this way they are encouraging other like-minded friends to come up with their comments. Sometimes they challenge others to dig in with better penmanship. In such a way, a healthy discussion keeps everybody constructively busy.

One could easily comprehend the quality and character of friends on this social media. This is Mark at his best. A post can be good, bad or ugly. A blog or an essay could be hopeless. A poem may be a third grade exercise. However, a real friend would not avoid such an effort. He would not certainly side track or put a simple ‘Like” to complete a formality. He would put a subtle comment unhurtful and soothing so that the author takes the critical appraisal happily. The effort should be to encourage improvement and never to dissuade. On the contrary, it is highly insulting and humiliating if the so called friends do not respond at all.
And when one appreciates a beautiful effort in a way an intelect does, he elevates himself too. At once, he becomes more respectful. As the saying goes," Beauty lies in the eyes of a beholder".