Figuring Out Facebook | Video

Retha Colclasure | 10/23/2012

Using social media is just a normal part of daily life for many people, but others can still find it overwhelming. People 50 and over are the fastest growing users of social media. While some hit the ground running online, others can be hesitant to sign up.

It`s been awhile since Mike Tomasko first learned how to use a computer.

"I pulled out my yellow pad on my desk and said, `Ok, how do I turn this machine on?` Well the big button down here and the little button on the screen. I said, `Step one, turn on the computer.` He said, `This is going to be a long day.`"

Tomasko will freely admit that if something is working, he doesn`t want to change it.

"I just got an iPhone. I move slow on technology. Along with my age, I move slow on a lot of things."

But he decided to get up to date on Facebook, since he`ll need to use it to keep in touch with legislators during the upcoming session. And he found himself in a crowd of many other AARP members in the same spot.

"The vast majority have an account, they know their friends and family are on it, and they want to do more but they haven`t had the time to explore it or there`s a fear of, you have all these smart savvy people, they don`t know this." said Social Media Presenter Tammy Gordon.

She walked Mike through setting up an account, and answered many other questions about how to navigate the site.

"Everybody`s not going to get it the first time," Gordon said.

But she says helping people figure out their comfort zone online can lead them to be as active on the site as they want.

Tomasko says he`s going to stick with just using Facebook to follow AARP until he gets the hang of it. Then, he`s looking forward to using it to keep in touch with his kids and, when they`re old enough, his grandkids.

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