The next time your parents or grandparents make excuses about using new technology and claim that computers are for youngsters, point them towards this article. Ivy Bean is 102 years of age but has a Facebook account and just loves social networking.

I can almost guarantee that everyone reading this has at least one relative who thinks they have missed the boat when it comes to new technology. Mobile phones are too small, computers are too complicated, and the Internet is a waste of time. Well, Ivy Bean, a 102-year-old former mill worker from Bradford in England is a prime example that it’s never too late to start exploring new interests.

Ivy Bean is proclaimed to be the world’s oldest Facebook user, although I’m convinced that claim will now be put to the test by some copycat pensioners. Over the last few days, Ivy has been featured in various newspapers around the world, been discussed on several television shows and of course been the darling of the blogosphere.

She lives in a care home in Bradford and has recently competed in the Over 75s’ Olympic Games… Bradford division. She joined Facebook last year after hearing staff at the Hillside Manor care home talking about the Web phenomenon. Up until this barrage of attention, she only had 9 friends, but now has almost 5000 and counting.

Carers at the home she resides have set up a group dedicated to the ‘Oldest person on Facebook’. She is thought to have stolen the title from the 97-year-old previous record holder.

The Daily Mail reports on how much the world has changed since Ivy was born. In 1905, the main method of communication was the telegram, with a national telephone network still seven years away. Messages would often take days to pass between countries. Compare that to now when we all have the whole world at our fingertips and you realise how far we have come.

I do wonder how much Ivy actually knows about this whole thing, but it’s still a heart-warming story that every person over the age of 60 should be forced to read. If Mrs bean can do it, then so can you.

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Entry was posted on Sunday, August 17th, 2008 at 5:06 pm under Internet, Opinion, Social Media, Technology.

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