Access this journal, Social Media and Society, and read one article from the current issue that appeals to your interests. In a blog post, provide a brief description and an analysis of the article of your choice. Do you agree with the authors? If not – why not? (350-400 words).

In the current issue of Social Media and Society, one of the articles attracts my attention. It is a study investigating the changing attitudes of the oldest-old on the usage of social networking sites (Casanova et al., 2021). The finding demonstrates that most of the older people present a positive attitude in using the social networking sites (SNS), after they receive some training courses. In this article, I particularly agree with the opinion that the use of SNS can improve “the intergenerational communication with children and grandchildren” (Casanova et al., 2021, p. 10). In my family, we use a family WeChat group to share information, pictures and recent stories. My 90 years old grandmother is also in this group. Although she does not talk much, she enjoys watching all these posts, especially the fun videos of her great grandchildren who live abroad. In this way, she is united tightly with the entire family by using the SNS. Therefore, the SNS has its potential influence in reducing the loneliness of older users.

Although the elders can technically interact with the family more frequently by using the SNS, they still need intimate contact. (I need to avoid to use the term “close contact”, as this phrase seems to represent another strange meaning after the Covid-19 outbreaks.) Just as one participants mentions, “real contact with real people counteracts loneliness  and not something virtual” (Casanova et al., 2021, p. 8). Thus, the SNS is not the key to eliminate loneliness. It can be used as a tool to improve older people’s social skills in this modern society. In addition, it is just a substitution when people have no way to get in real touch with each other. We need hugs, cuddle, and face to face communication in real life. The SNS can be applied as a tool to help the elders to join more community activities, and it should not be used as an excuse of not visiting or caring for them.

In other words, it is encouraged to hold more training programs in assisting the older generation using modern social networking tools. However, we must not forget that the tools, including SNS, are used to facilitate more intimate contacts.

Referece:

Casanova, G., Abbondanza, S., Rolandi, E., Vaccaro, R., Pettinato, L., Colombo, M., & Guaita, A. (2021). New older users’ attitudes toward social networking sites and loneliness: The case of the oldest-old residents in a small Italian city. Social Media + Society, 7(4): 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1177/20563051211052905