When we originally set out to write an article about
social media, its intent was to teach our elderly
population the tricks of the trade, so to speak. However,
when you sit down to teach someone how to perform
even the simplest of functions in a myriad of social
media platforms, it becomes overwhelming. How does
someone who didn’t grow up with a computer, someone
in their 70s or 80s, easily learn the difference between
Tik Tok, Vine and Instagram? How do we teach them
about likes and gifs on Facebook? For that matter, how
do we go into the dark world that is SnapChat?
The thought of even trying became a bit crazy, but
we’re still working on it. For now, though, we realized
what an interesting conversation can take place
between a 20-year-old, a 50-year-old and an 87-yearold
70 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE May/June 2020
By Marcy Shortuse, Dean Laux
and Olivia Cameron
when it comes to the topic of social media. Talk
about bridging a generation gap!
COVID-19 has taught us a big lesson when it came
to communication … social media can be a godsend.
Many of the people who thought it was too complex
soon realized that the only way they could see their new
grandbaby, or talk to their children about what medicines
they should take and how often, was with social
media. Face-to-face conversations have a much deeper
meaning than a phone call, there’s no doubt about that.
Watching your niece play her newest piece on the
piano, watching your grandson play with his new baby
sister, reconnecting with someone you went to school
with decades ago ... these are moments you would
never see if it weren’t for “evil” social media.