Online and mobile technologies and practices that people use to share opinions, insights, experiences, and perspectives with each other.

In fact this blog is considered a form of social media, since it allows for sharing of information and the ability for you, the readers, to interact and add your own information and opinions.
For those of you that think all of the technological mumbo jumbo is best left to the ‘young folk’, think again.  In February and March of 2009, our age group was the fastest growing demographic on Facebook. Apparently, unlike our predecessors, we’re a generation who’s willing to not only face the computer age, but to embrace it.

But why join a social networking site like Facebook or Twitter?

One of the biggest reason Baby Boomers give for joining Facebook is to reconnect with people.  High school classmates, former co-workers, and family members can all congregate on the site.  It’s like a virtual class or family reunion.  With the ability to share pictures, we can see just how well the star football player and head cheerleader have done for themselves and stay in touch with children and grandchildren no matter where they may live.

As for Twitter, at first it may seem pretty pointless, but watch what happens when breaking news takes place.  Twitter has the story before the news channels do.

For example, when the USAir flight 1549 made its emergency landing in the Hudson River, the first reports and pictures were received by users of Twitter.  Those of us following along as the ‘tweets’ (the 140 word or less messages are called) came through from eye witnesses as all the people aboard were rescued.

And it’s not just the big stories. When I-40 was under construction this summer near my home, I got frequent updates as to the traffic congestion via Twitter, delivered straight to my cell phone.  This allowed me to choose an alternate route home and miss out on the frustration of being caught in traffic.
I’ve also made ‘Twitter friends’, other Twitter users in my local area whom I’ve gotten to meet with. Definitely a bonus for me, since I’m a newbie to the area.

And new uses for Twitter are coming to the forefront all the time, take for example @BoomerAuthority. @BoomerAuthority is  a free service on Twitter that advocates a change from one-way communication to one of listening and two-way conversation. Through Twitter, Boomer Authority connects you to qualified professionals who will first listen and then help you with your question.

So how about you? Are you a Social Media Boomer? Yes? No? Tell me why or why not by leaving a comment.