The Parents Who Won’t Embrace Social Media


(Image found on Google Search)
As a Social Media Consultant, I am challenged every day with people who want a social presence because it is the new, hip thing and don’t really understand the basics of how online activity works.  I applaud you for stepping outside of your box and wanting to try on something new!
My parents are a great example of this.  They are retired, have used computers for their functions at work before they retired, and have no desire to play in social media.  They realized that even though we talk frequently, sending pictures in email just would not do any longer.  I setup a Facebook account for them and buckled down privacy settings as much as possible.  YAY! They can see the pictures and posts and all was well in the world!
I learned quickly there was a language barrier.  It is adorable and real.  Too cute for me not to share.
My parents, social media newbies – would cal me, “I got your email about the event, do I have to go?”  or “I got them email from your friend about your picture” I started to realize these said “emails” where them thinking that every single post, comment or like (from a friends public post) that they genially thought they were sending them an email, or that I was as well. As I am their only friend on Facebook, they saw my activity as genuine emails to them, I realized the dramatic gap they have with social media.
See, it turned from, I am commenting on my friends wall (because they are public people can see it) to, my parents getting an email every time I comment on something.  To them, it is an email. To me, it is just a comment.
The bigger questions crossed my mind …
(1) Is it just that simple, I post and the email comes that they think is just for them?
(2) Do my friends need to have better privacy settings?
(3) Is it a technology language shift that we are experiencing?
Sure – any and all of the above. In the end, I just had to share how cute they are.

~ Social Media is changing the way people do business.  Don’t get left behind ~ 

Hollie Clere, of The Social Media Advisor is a social media manager, trainer and author in LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Google+ , Pinterest and the tools to manage them. Click here for her Social Media Links

Sign up for your Free Social Media Analysis 
 

942013161953881125x104.gif

Facebook, Parents with Social Media, Social Media Marketing, technology


Learn how to use social media to grow your business online with our video series!

  • Learn the fundamentals of social media
  • Learn how to build better brand engagement
  • Learn how to enhance your visitors' experience
  • Learn how to grow your business using social media strategies.

If you want someone to break down aspects of social media to get more clients and build your business using social media, this is the program for you.


©2008-2023 Clere Communications / The Social Media Advisor