By Debbie Gardner
debbieg@thereminder.com
It’s college season – and soon parents and grandparents will be saying goodbye to young people starting the next chapter of their lives. But unlike former generations, it may not be a total goodbye, given our very connected world.
Still the rules are about to change – for everybody. Knowing that elders may need some guidance, Prime reached out to the young staff at our sister company, Envision Marketing, for advice on how parents and grandparents can better navigate the social media landscape, as kids become adults.
Here’s what they had to say:
Q: Everybody stays connected through social media, but not every generation gets the etiquette. What are the big mistakes younger users see parents and grandparents make?
“One mistake we have seen a few times that grandparents and elders make on social media is accidentally posting what they meant to search within the Facebook search bar. This can cause much confusion for the younger users…‘why did my Great Uncle post a random name on their facebook status?’
“Sometimes we also see older family members using social media as a tool to embarrass the youngest of the family…we don’t recommend doing this. Especially when the younger members are already nerved-up about going away to college. Extra stress about what “goofy”image or story is being posted next by their elders does not need to be an additional worry for the college-bound.
“Another big mistake involves grammar. We see the older generation often disregard the use of commas and periods when writing posts, or commenting, in social media sites.”
Q: In that same vein, not every platform is meant for every user. Where would/does parent/grandparent interaction make you cringe? Why?
“Haha, we would say…stick to Facebook or LinkedIn.
“Grandparents want to use Facebook as a tool to stay connected…it’s their new ‘photo album,’ and that’s ok. Likewise, LinkedIn is a great way for them to share their professional advice, and read an interesting article regarding the business world.
“We would, however, recommend they stay away from Instagram and Snapchat. Those two platforms are very ‘youthful’ in usage style and content and are really oriented towards the younger generation, 35 and under.”
Q: Speaking of the proverbial generation gap, how would you advise parents/grandparents handle posts about social norms – hair color, wardrobe, piercings, friends, etc. – that may seem foreign/offensive to them?
“We would just remind them that a lot of the “social media” users are of a younger generation. They often use social media as a tool to express themselves, whether they agree with it or not…that’s just how it is.
“We would also recommend treating foreign social media posts the same way you would treat a foreign situation in day to day life. If you don’t feel comfortable looking at something a person posts on social media, you can easily block that account or hide that person’s posts/feed. It is important to remember that you are not required to follow someone. Sometimes it is necessary to block inappropriate or offensive accounts.
Reminder Publishing’s younger staff members added this caveat to the ‘handling posts’ question: “It all goes back to the age-old phrase, ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all!’ If you see something you don’t like or are wondering about, don’t comment on it online. It can be hurtful, and your comment on a post could be offensive to your child/grandchild’s friends. Even if you think you’re coining a clever phrase or something that couldn’t possibly be looked at as offensive, inflection is often up to interpretation. Comments can be misconstrued and misinterpreted. If you feel the need, ask your child/grandchild when you see them. Otherwise, keep it to yourself!”
