If you’re like me, you’ve had a love and hate relationship with Facebook. I started out loving it, moved into hating it, and coming out loving it again. Right now, I am trying to look at Facebook as a very positive opportunity. I look at it as a gateway to live a lifestyle based on your passion in life. The internet opens that world up, but Facebook becoming the gateway to that new space for our Moms and Dads!
The Gateway – A new road is built
With technology comes confusion, fear and change. Young people, who’ve grown up surrounded by computers and the internet, have embraced surfing the internet. Do you remember being encouraged to get off the computer and go to bed? Do you remember your parents being concerned that the internet is negative and you’re wasting so much time on it? If you do, I think that’s pretty normal. Except there is a shift. Slowly, parents were more and more introduced to the use of the internet. I don’t know if it was through work or not, but there was a strong shift.
As I reflect on my own life, I started to notice my parents using the computer more and more as I was leaving High School and starting University. E-mail helped with communication and it may have been curiosity that engaged the ‘surfing the web.’
Although I noticed an increase in use of the computer, it was still primitive. The internet is still primitive in the eyes of many experts. Now, I am probably going out on a pretty big limb here, but I would not imagine many people looking to start websites. Teens were building websites on places like Geocities for fun and learning, but I don’t recall any adults in my world starting websites.
Fast Forward to right now and your Mom is probably on Facebook ( Maybe even your Dad ). Even if you parents are not active on Facebook daily, they’re exposed to a new social world. After a few conversations over the phone with family, your parents have spread word that they’ve joined Facebook. Suddenly, uncles and aunts are finding you as well. The family reunion isn’t the only time you’re connecting with extended family anymore.
I recently heard Erik Qualman mention that the fastest growing demographic on Facebook now is the 55-65 year old woman. Mothers and Grand Mothers want to connect with their Daughter and Grand Daughters. The more they show up, the more you’re exposing them killer web content.
Your parents and family are now being exposed to your extended web surfing. The more amazing websites and bits of information you share with Facebook, shares them with your Mom, Dad, Aunt, Cousin. They’re interested in knowing more about you and seeing what you found. Amazingly, this simply conditioning another generation to what we’ve loved for so long.
Why I am Excited about this?
I am excited for a shift in Lifestyle. I gain excitement because my Mom is going to jump into her passion. She got on Facebook, and is now ready to start her own website and blog centered about an alliance for feral cats. Yes, she is going to seriously pursue passion for helping feral cats! Looking back a few years ago, we would never think it could be possible. I am so excited to help her with her project and be involved with her helping give feral cats some TLC. If you asked my girlfriend Marika about my mom, she would tell you how much my mom adores and cares for cats. Not that she worked in insurance for many years and will give you a quote. What is a big part of your life? What has true meaning for you? That’s what this is about.
Moms, parents, and family in general are being exposed to others getting involved in their passions. These are parents that have been so frustrated with their careers for years!
It’s our job to say that it’s not too late; it’s time to branch out from just using Facebook and build yourself up online. I want everyone that I know on Linkedin (here is my profile: Scott Webb) as well. Twitter may be a harder sell, but I plan to incorporate it into my moms’ website. Even if she doesn’t use it, it’s going to broadcast her updates automatically.
Soft Conclusion on Facebook as a Gateway
Facebook is awesome because of it’s social ability to share online greatness with a mass audience that may not be as engaged online. Over time, we expose parents and elders into the wonder and power of internet. Remember that it will take time and I think it is your responsibility to share as much content in your stream that interests you. It’s going to strengthen relationships, and show them a way to live authentically.
Eventually, branching out and experiencing your own space online and other social media sites will need to happen. I hope that more baby boomers branch out (of course still utilizing facebook) to experience Linkedin, Twitter, and Blogging on their own Domain. You don’t have to have a work persona, weekend persona, and secret closed door persona anymore. Being authentic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week starts with Facebook and branches out from there.
Don’t forget to join the Nuwomb Creative Fan page on Facebook!
