European society is aging. As the ranks of senior citizens grow, so does the incidence of social isolation and loneliness. Studies show that social isolation among senior citizens can be as harmful to their health as smoking or a sedentary lifestyle.
Just as the demographic makeup of society is changing, the manner in which citizens interact with each other has also changed dramatically in recent years. The Internet, Email and Web 2.0 social media have led to a migration of social interaction from physical to virtual communities. Yet, a mere 7 percent of seniors participate in social networks.
This project aims to use social networking applications to help reduce social isolation and loneliness among seniors and promote participation in today’s increasingly virtual society.
Just as the demographic makeup of society is changing, the manner in which citizens interact with each other has also changed dramatically in recent years. The Internet, Email and Web 2.0 social media have led to a migration of social interaction from physical to virtual communities. Yet, a mere 7 percent of seniors participate in social networks.
This project aims to use social networking applications to help reduce social isolation and loneliness among seniors and promote participation in today’s increasingly virtual society.
