Wanland: Practicum #6

In my last post before submitting my final work to Wikipedia, I will analyze the ways in which Senior Chatters is different and similar to other social network sites. 

One way Senior Chatters is similar to other social networking sites is through the gratifications that are made available to users.  For example, like Facebook, Senior Chatters allows users to upload pictures, create a unique profile, “like” blog posts, and send out “friend requests” to other users.  Senior Chatters does not include “wall posts” into its web design, rather users are able to reflect upon life experiences, make light of growing old, and discuss important matters through blog posts.  However, although Senior Chatters layout and functions of the site are similar to Facebook, the content that is discussed on Senior Chatters is different.  For instance, according to the site’s list of “hot topics”, it was found that users engage in topics pertaining to life insurance, retirement planning, blood pressure in later years, etc.

Also, unlike other social network sites that primarily use the site to catch up and stay in touch with friends, the primary purpose of Senior Chatters is to build “genuine” relationships with others. Since Senior Chatters is a worldwide site, users are forced to connect with others through the online chat rooms and forums, and by joining groups.

Senior Chatters is also a social network site that seeks to connect users aged 50 and older through shared interests and strives to form a community of like-minded users.  I personally think this characteristic on Senior Chatters is one that separates itself from other sites. Below is a blog post I found:  

 

From this post, it clearly shows how users on Senior Chatters care about each other and desire to help each other out.  I find it fascinating how users on this site become close through simple blog posts and chat rooms without ever meeting each other in person. The close relationships formed on the site reveal the site’s effectiveness at achieving its goal of building “genuine” relationships.