For 'Grandfluencers,' Age Isn't a Social Media Hindrance -- It's a Hook

Amid the coronavirus epidemic, seniors are using social media to establish an online presence as a bulwark against pessimism and isolation, reports the Christian Science Monitor . This is turning them into "grandfluencers," drawing audiences by documenting their daily lives while in lockdown, offering advice, and more. One popular grandfluencer is "Nonna Rosetta" from southern Italy, who filmed a video of humorous suggestions for living with the pandemic, which has gone viral and been translated into English, Russian, Chinese, Portuguese, Romanian, and Spanish. "By having Nonna Rosetta at home, in her kitchen, sitting on her chair, talking directly to the audience, we tried to share a message that is both serious and reassuring, to be truly listened to because you recognize Grandma has enough experience, and wisdom, to be listened to," says Renata Perongini, whose production company Casa Surace made the video. However, King's College London's Shir Shimoni said the advent of grandfluencers may partly constitute a tacit celebration of seniors who do not require societal aid — a troublesome assumption as older adults are most vulnerable to COVID-19.