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Tribal advocates keep up legal pressure for fair political maps; 12-member jury sworn in for Trump's historic criminal trial; the importance of healthcare decision planning; and a debt dilemma: poll shows how many people wrestle with college costs.

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Civil rights activists say a court ruling could end the right to protest in three southern states, a federal judge lets January 6th lawsuits proceed against former President Trump, and police arrest dozens at a Columbia University Gaza protest.

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Rural Wyoming needs more vocational teachers to sustain its workforce pipeline, Ohio environmental advocates fear harm from a proposal to open 40-thousand forest acres to fracking and rural communities build bike trail systems to promote nature, boost the economy.

Over-45 Crowd Becoming More Tech-Savvy

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Thursday, November 17, 2011   

INDIANAPOLIS - More people 45 and older are trying to get connected through social networking, although they're not always sure how to do it, or even why they should.

Marsha Collier, the author of "Facebook and Twitter for Seniors - for Dummies," says the best way to wade into social networking is: slowly. Pick one pursuit, such as Facebook or LinkedIn - or even emailing or texting on a mobile phone - and learn that first. And she suggests younger people help parents or grandparents create a blog.

"Anybody can set those up for someone pretty easily, and all they have to do is go there and click 'post.' They can post about their garden; they can post about their children. And you'll be surprised: even if there's no response to the blog, it will give them a comfort factor of going onto the computer and typing a journal."

A new AARP survey confirms that social media are catching on among older Americans, and more than 40 percent say they learned it from their child or grandchild. Only one in ten has a Twitter account, but most have had online video-chats with faraway family or friends.

About 40 percent of the survey respondents said they think social networking is a waste of time. Collier says they're right, if they don't use it correctly. For those who are job-hunting, she points out that it's almost a necessity.

"I know of several people who were connected out of thin air on LinkedIn, to get a job offer. Remember the days of headhunters, you know, having to go through classifieds. It's a whole new world if you're looking for a job."

Collier says even people who are hesitant to social-network will be more interested when they see all the friends and family members they can connect with, or when they realize they can make money selling things on eBay.


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