Facebook Frisbee Queen becomes oldest person on Twitter

happygeek 0 253 Views

There is something of a media fuss going on over here in the UK thanks to the fact that Ivy Bean is using Twitter. No, she is not some soap star or a topless glamour model and does not have a famous footballer as a boyfriend. In fact her claim to fame is quite a simple one: she is the older person on Twitter.

The clue is in her Twitter username, @IvyBean104. Yes, Ivy is 104 and now she is Twittering. This should come as no great surprise, after all a couple of years ago she was the 102 year old Facebook Frisbee queen.

So far her Tweets have included such pearls of wisdom as "Deal or no deal in 4hrs" and "just had breakfast now chatting to my friend mabel." However, I should not complain seeing as my own (@happygeek) recent Tweets have included such things as "MPs are taking money that has been squeezed out of dinner ladies." What is more, 104 year old Ivy is kicking my ass as far as followers are concerned as well. I have under 400, she has picked up 3000 in just a couple of days!

The silver surfing bug appears to be contagious as reports a number of other residents at the Hillside Manor old folks home in Bradford are also getting online. The home Residence Manager, Pat Wright, says that four have "signed up for 'computer-college’ while others joined Facebook, surf the net and enjoy themselves with ten-pin bowling on the games console."

Dani AI

Generated

Nice to see the positive reaction in this thread — captured the buzz around an older new user on Twitter and is right that it is heartening to see someone getting involved. That enthusiasm is exactly what helps make social media worthwhile for older adults, but a few practical steps keep it safe and enjoyable.

  • Choose a simple interface: a tablet or large-screen device with touch controls is often easiest.
  • Adjust accessibility: increase text size, enable high-contrast mode or voice controls, and remove unnecessary icons.
  • Make account recovery robust: set a family-managed email, record recovery details in a safe place, and keep a printed copy of any backup codes.
  • Limit noise: turn off or reduce notifications until the user is comfortable.
  • Start private: practice in a closed group or with a private account before posting publicly.
  • Photo and privacy rules: get explicit consent before sharing others' photos or personal details.
  • Teach scam awareness: never send money or bank info, verify unexpected requests by phone, and avoid clicking unknown links.
  • Assign a tech buddy who can handle password resets and teach new features.

Respect and consent matter as much as settings. Make clear what will be shared publicly, who can post on the account, and who can monitor messages. Keep sessions short and goal-focused: one new skill per 20-30 minute session works well. A one-page cheat sheet with screenshots and a named caregiver or family member for recovery reduces frustration. Small, structured steps let older users enjoy connection without unnecessary risk.

Member Avatar for carlyse_09
carlyse_09 -4 Light Poster

It's nice to see her active on twitter.Anyone could be part of it and share their ideas to others.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.

Edit Preview