Social Networking from Cradle to Grave

Elyse Sanchez, Thursday, August 9, 2007 @ 1:20 pm

According to a pair of articles on BusinessWeek.com, the
social networking site Facebook.com attracted 11.5 million individual visitors
over the age of 35 in June, more than double the number a year before. The
growth of this segment is remarkable, given that the site was not open to all
until late September 2006, and the increasing “graying” of Facebook is
predicted to change the site’s character and content.

To paraphrase Groucho Marx, I am reluctant to join any club
that would have me as a member. I enjoy the features the site has to offer, and
am a member of several groups, but I am acutely aware that I am not the target
demographic, and I tread lightly. No pokes from me, folks.

On the other end of the social networking spectrum is
eons.com, which is dedicated to “Lovin’ life on the flip side of 50.”  The site is designed to accommodate its
audience: text is large (with an icon in the global navigation that enables
users to toggle between sizes), controls are big and features are presented in
a reassuring and user-friendly fashion, with much hand-holding in the form of
demos and explanations. All site content, whether user-generated or supplied by
the site itself, can be “boomed” by members to indicate popularity and
approval. Advertisements for Medicare supplemental insurance and pharmacies reflect
the needs and interests of the site’s members.

Perhaps the most overt indication of the site’s demographics
is the selection of topic areas. Right up there with top-level categories
including “Love,” “Money” and “Body” are “Lifedreams” and “Lifemap.” The latter
is an area for members to post and share their own life stories. Amidst all
this life is an “Obits” category where members can post tributes to their loved
ones and participate in groups. Continuing this theme, within the “Fun”
category is a game called “Are they alive or dead?” which challenges users to
decide whether famous personalities are above or below ground.

The site is far from senior in spirit, however: member group topics include dirty jokes and Harley hogs. It seems like a nice site to grow into.

user experience design

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