AARP Online Portrayal of Social Security: Engaging Aging Baby Boomers Through Interaction

• Published in: Educational gerontology Vol. 32; no. 6; pp. 393 - 407
• Main Authors: Hilt, Michael L., Lipschultz, Jeremy H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 01-06-2006; Routledge
• Subjects: Baby Boomers; Computer Mediated Communication; Information Dissemination; Information Utilization; Lobbying; Nonprofit Organizations; Public Policy; Qualitative Research; Retirement; Retirement Benefits; Social Security; Web Sites
• ISSN: 0360-1277; 1521-0472
• DOI: 10.1080/03601270600685602

Although baby boomers were not the sole focus of the American Association of Retired Persons' (AARP) website content on the issue of Social Security reform, their interests were addressed in a variety of ways. AARP provided information, position statements, a live chat forum, and message boards. Additionally, AARP had a partnership with the Rock the Vote website. It was unexpected that AARP would be so interested in younger people and in convincing them about their generation's need to support Social Security as it currently exists. It may be that as the baby boom generation enters retirement, AARP will become increasingly concerned with addressing the specific needs of this group. For now, AARP seemed comfortable with a single message designed to fit all age groups: AARP favored maintaining the existing Social Security system and promoting individual investing and savings.