When you think of Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and other social networks, it’s easy to think two things:
1. Young people.
2. What a waste of time.
And while Twitter’s demographic is actually a bit older than you might suspect, social networks of all stripes are gaining in popularity in all age groups — yes, even seniors. But the reason isn’t the one you might think. It’s not about marketing or re-connecting with old friends or getting popular online (Ahem, Mr. Kutcher). It’s about fighting boredom and loneliness — and having a reason to keep going.
While it’s hard to think we can replace human interaction with online networks and be just as happy, this just goes to show you that social media has a place no matter who you are. I was struck by this notion and by the following New York Times piece on the subject. Enjoy!