Tips for Staying Connected with Relatives on Social Media

Staying connected with relatives over social media can be a great way to maintain relationships, especially when distance makes in-person visits difficult. Social media has matured into a fantastic medium for staying connected with relatives and friends far and wide. Beyond an occaisional text or phone call, social media provides a platform to engage and share key life moments and milestones.

The most common platforms for this are Facebook and Instagram while more chat focused apps such as snapchat play a key role as well.

Below are some useful tips you can follow to help improve your social media engagement with family and friends.

1. Create or Join Family Groups

• Group Chats: Set up group chats on platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, or even Instagram DMs to share updates, photos, and quick messages with multiple relatives at once.
• Private Facebook Group: Create a private family group on Facebook where everyone can post updates, share photos, and plan family events.

2. Share Regular Updates

• Photos and Videos: Regularly post photos or videos of important moments or everyday life to keep your relatives updated. You can use applications like PictureStudio from AMBIR to create shareable albums of scanned family photos.
• Status Updates: Share what’s happening in your life, whether it’s a new job, a fun outing, or just how you’re feeling that day.

3. Engage with Their Content

• Like and Comment: Show that you care by liking and commenting on their posts. A simple “like” or a thoughtful comment can mean a lot.
• React and Share: Use reactions (like hearts or emojis) to express your feelings about their posts, and share interesting content they might enjoy.

4. Plan Virtual Events

• Video Calls: Use platforms like Zoom, Skype, or FaceTime for virtual family gatherings. This could be for special occasions or just a casual catch-up.
• Virtual Game Nights: Play online games together or organize a quiz night to have some fun while staying connected.

5. Celebrate Milestones Together

• Birthdays and Anniversaries: Use social media to send personalized messages, create posts, or even host virtual parties to celebrate milestones.
• Create Shared Albums: On platforms like Google Photos or Facebook, you can create shared albums where everyone can upload photos from family events.

6. Share Useful Information

• Family News: Keep everyone informed about family news, like upcoming events, health updates, or other important information.
• Tips and Resources: Share useful tips, articles, or resources that could benefit your relatives, like travel tips, recipes, or health advice.

7. Respect Privacy

• Ask Before Posting: Make sure to ask for permission before posting photos or information about others, especially if it’s sensitive or personal.
• Control Privacy Settings: Be mindful of who can see your posts by adjusting your privacy settings on social media platforms.

8. Be Consistent

• Regular Check-Ins: Make it a habit to check in on your relatives regularly, whether it’s through a quick message, a call, or a social media post.
• Stay Active: Keep your social media presence active by engaging with content and sharing updates, so your relatives feel connected to your life.

Staying connected with relatives through social media helps maintain a sense of community and support, even when you’re not physically together.