It is no secret that Baby Boomers are great communicators. No matter what side of the political coin a Boomer falls on, being a young adult in the 1960s usually meant engaging in some sort of social activity or some form of civil discourse. With the propensity towards engagement in social interaction during this period, it is no surprise that today’s Boomers are adapting quickly to new social mediums and getting connected. When social media tools were first introduced many Boomers were skeptical, but the usage rate of these new communicative platforms in aging populations is now soaring.
“Creating and renewing personal connections online is the biggest draw for these Boomers,” said Lisa E. Phillips, eMarketer senior analyst and author of the new report, “Boomers and Social Media.” “About 47% of online boomers maintain a profile on at least one social network, according to several sources. Their contacts include family, friends and co-workers of all ages.”
Staying socially connected is also a great way to stay mentally fit. By nature humans are social animals and even non-extraverts need to feel a sense of connection to the outside world. As Dr. Pascale Michelon explains in the SharpBrains’ article Social Connection for Cognitive Fitness, “Mental fitness seems to depend on a large part on being connected with other people. For instance people with low social support seem to be more prone to mental illness (McGuire & Raleigh, 1986).” In another study mentioned in the article, doctors discovered that low social support, especially coming from the family, was associated with chronic depression. Lastly, a 2008 study showed that socializing with other people had many of the same benefits as performing mental exercises and showed similar effects in terms of improving brain functions.
Long known by researchers, when we interact socially we exercise many of the cognitive functions needed for everyday living (e.g. attention, control, and memory). By continually practicing these skills we can keep ourselves mentally fit and, because of this, most scientists also agree that social interaction can benefit the brain. The jury is still out concerning what role social media plays in this regard but there is no denying that these innovations allow friends and family members new opportunities to stay connected and interact socially. Where it had been traditionally difficult to stay in touch with some loved ones due to distance, finances, or other limitations, social media has enabled many to reconnect. So “log-in” and say hello to a long lost friend or family member… you will make someone happy and you might end up helping your brain too!