Ways to Stay in Touch with Family Using Social Media

Social media is used by billions of people worldwide, and this popularity is not expected to stop anytime soon. It is used to keep up with the news, educate yourself, follow your favorite sports teams and celebrities, and even make new friends you would have never met otherwise.

But in addition to these, social media can be exceptional for staying in touch with your family. According to surveys, most people who use social media do so to stay in touch with their family and friends. It becomes a safe and convenient way for older people to communicate with their adult children and grandchildren, along with friends, without worry in a world still consumed by COVID-19.

Whether you are separated because of COVID-19 or simply because you live far away, social media can be a huge help. There are several ways to keep in touch with your family with social media.

One of the primary uses of social media is to post and share photos. These can be photos of you, your pets, the adventures you go on, your garden, or anything in between. Sharing photos and tagging or sending them to your loved ones is a great way to connect and keep in touch with your family.

It is also a good idea to learn tips on how to use photography hashtags, so you can better share your great photos with the world and bridge the generational gap at the same time. In addition to photos, you can also make posts, share videos, and even comment on the posts that your family members make. All of this can help you stay in touch and communicate with family quickly and easily.

Create a Private Group or Message

If you want to keep things private and away from potentially prying eyes, you could also set up a private chat, group, or message with your family. These are invite-only and can ensure that only those in the group will see what is posted and communicated. 

Most platforms allow ways to share photos, messages, and other information with people without publicly posting, and creating and using them can be easy.

While the number of people in these groups can vary, it is generally enough so that no one will be left out. These group chats can be a ton of fun and can lead to becoming much closer with your family. They also allow for more frequent communication between you and your family instead of only relying on phone calls and video chats.

Video Chats

There are several ways for people to speak with each other using video with either social media or smartphones. Facebook, for example, has an instant message application where you can talk to someone while seeing them at the same time. It is effortless, and it only requires your computer, laptop, or other device has a camera and microphone. 

Computer applications like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, among others, can combine a group of people for a video chat. These video meetings allow everyone to see each other and interact. 

As long as you have access to the internet and the right equipment, your options are endless. Even much older people in long-term care facilities can often use these devices to stay in touch with their loved ones. Many facilities are still limiting the guests because of COVID-19 protocols. Despite the problems that the virus crisis throws at us, simple technology can still allow us to remain family.

Always Be Safe

While social media is incredibly convenient, it can also be potentially dangerous. You never know who will see what you post, so you need to be careful. For example, if you post you are going on a trip, someone may be able to find where you live and rob your home during the vacation, as they know you will be gone. If you post too much personal information, it can also be dangerous as people could use it to steal your identity or scam you.

Thankfully, there are a variety of things you can do to stay safe on social media. Being safe online includes keeping sensitive information personal, not leaking your password, adjusting your privacy and security settings, and many others. If you don’t take these into account, you could find yourself in a bad situation.

It is so easy to keep in touch with your family, even if you are miles and miles away.