An online community is a group of people who share a common interest or passion and communicate over the internet. You can play games, discuss politics, current affairs, and do various things with like-minded people. Joining an online community thus allows you to get involved with a fast-growing group of peers and make new friends. Online communities are especially suited for your hobbies and interests. If you are interested in hiking, fishing, or gardening, there is sure to be a social group with like-minded people. Online communities are free, help to keep seniors connected, and promote healthy information acquisition and community building.
Internet usages such as being part of an online community, blogging, or social networking are better for one’s social life, development, and mental health as opposed to internet usage related to entertainment such as online movies, gaming, or social media. Here are some of the benefits of joining an online community.
Learning
Being part of an online community means that you constantly get exposed to new knowledge and are constantly learning about things you may not have heard of. This is because online communities promote information sharing, exchange, and encourage members to share their views. Online communities are thus a great source of information and you can be more productive due to the breadth of knowledge found.
There is always something new to learn and different people are always sharing their experiences and tips or tricks. You may even learn new skills from online communities which may apply to your hobbies. Seniors thus benefit from constantly learning, which helps to keep their brains active and sharp.
This helps to improve their memory and gives them a stronger sense of independence. Lifelong learning for seniors is important as it aids their intellectual ability and reduces the risk of dementia and cognitive decline. Learning more about your passion and interests will also make seniors happy and give them a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
Prevents Loneliness And Depression
Being part of an online community gives you a sense of belonging and affects your health and well-being. Studies have constantly shown that seniors who rarely interacted with others or do not have frequent social engagement reported higher feelings of loneliness and poorer mental health.
This could deteriorate in the long term to depression and other mental health illnesses which would adversely affect their quality of life and also lead to other physical health problems. Being part of an online community and doing activities together makes you feel more confident and you will have higher self-esteem levels.
This is especially if you are doing things that you are passionate about together with other like-minded people. Having the opportunity to socialize and build meaningful relationships with others in the online community can also promote an active and healthier lifestyle.
For example, if you are a passionate hiker and join an online community about hiking, you may eventually go out with some members of the community for a hiking trip. Social engagement is an important part of life and is especially important for healthy aging.
