AARP Community Questions

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Click on the arrows below to see FAQs about our Web site. For general AARP questions, please visit Contact AARP.

General Questions

Learn about AARP.org’s registration process, terms of service, and rules of use.

What is the AARP.org Online Community?

We are an Online Community of friends, family, and new acquaintances that connects users through an ever-expanding social network. With the AARP.org Online Community, you can easily stay in touch with the people and topics that matter the most to you. Register now for free using the red "Register" button at the top right-hand corner of your screen.

What are the rules for using the Online Community?

Our rules are laid out in our Terms of Service for easy reference. We ask every user to review these terms during the AARP.org registration process. By using the site, each user agrees to comply with these terms.

How do I report a violation of the Terms of Service?

If you see a personal profile, photo, video, journal, comment, or post that you feel violates the Terms of Service, you can report the violation by clicking the "Report Abuse" link adjacent to the material.

Do I have to create a profile?

When you register on AARP.org, a profile page is created for you automatically.

The only personal information we require is your first name, last name, date of birth, zip code, and e-mail address. For more information on AARP's use of your personal information, please view our Privacy Policy.

How do I contact AARP with questions and/or issues regarding the Online Community?

Please visit our Community Help group for quick answers to your questions and for tips on using the Online Community. You can also e-mail your comments to us at community@aarp.org. For general questions about AARP and AARP.org, please visit the Contact AARP area of the Web site.

I want to register on AARP.org. Where do I begin?

Please download our How to Register (PDF) tutorial for convenient step-by-step registration instructions.

Can I make a link from my Web page to the AARP Web site?

Linking to articles and stories found on the AARP Web site http://www.aarp.org is encouraged; provided our Web pages are not placed in frames or otherwise modified from their original look and feel. No permission is needed to link to articles on the AARP Web site. But please include our name and URL (AARP, http://www.aarp.org) to give us attribution. The AARP logo and other graphics from any part of the Web site may not be used. If you have questions about the correct way of linking, please e-mail aarpwebmaster@aarp.org.

Does AARP offer any information in Spanish on its Web site?

Segunda Juventud, a quarterly, bilingual newspaper created by AARP for our Spanish-speaking members, has its own Web site. Please visit Segunda Juventud. AARP also offers online information in Spanish at AARP en Español.

Does AARP have an Internet Service Provider (ISP) program?

Yes. PeoplePC Online and EarthLink offer discounts on Internet connections to AARP members. Visit our Products, Services, and Discounts area of the Web site to learn more.

Friends

How can I find others in the Online Community? How does the ‘friends’ concept work?

How do I add someone to my friends list?

To add new friends:

1. Go to the People tab in the Online Community and search for people you know.

2. When you click on someone’s profile, you’ll see an Add to Friends button under his or her profile picture.

3. Click this button to add the person as a friend. He or she will then receive an e-mail with your request for friendship. That person may then approve or deny your request.

How do I remove someone from my friends list?

To remove someone from your friends list:

1. Go to your profile page.

2. Click the My Friends link on the right column of your profile page.

3. Check the box next to the person you’d like to remove.

4. Click the Remove button at the bottom of the list.

What, exactly, is the benefit of being a friend?

A friend status in the Online Community does indicate a friendship, but it also plays an important role in your profile settings. For example, when you have a photo, video, or journal, you can select a “family and friends” setting so that only the users you’ve designated as friends can view it. So it does pay to be discerning in building your friends network.

Do I have to be someone’s friend in order to interact with him or her online?

Nope. You can engage with other users without having to be their friend. If you and another user join the same group, you can carry on a discussion together within that group. You can comment on another user’s photo, video, or journal without being his or her friend. You can also send a message to another user by clicking on the Send a Message button under the user’s profile picture.

Groups

Learn how to find groups that interest you, and use them to connect with others.

What are groups?

Groups provide an online space where people can gather around common interests or subjects. Within a group, users can engage in discussions as well as share personal photos, videos, and/or journals. And because everyone has a variety of interests and opinions, users can join as many groups as they would like.

I see discussions going on within different groups. How do I participate?

You must join a group in order to participate. When you see a group that interests you, check the group's profile page to make sure the group type is public. (This means that anyone can join.) For step-by-step instructions on joining a group, please download our tutorial on How to Join a Group (PDF). Once you’ve joined, you can create new topics of conversation, post replies to current topics being discussed, and upload any photos, videos, or journals you’d like to share with the group.

How do I find a group that interests me?

Go to the Groups tab within the Online Community. To see a master list of all groups, simply click on the red Search Groups button without entering anything in the Search box. If you are looking for something in particular, like gardening, you can type that as a keyword into the Search box. You can also click on the list of categories to browse for groups by topic.

I really enjoy discussing and learning more about “xyz” but there doesn’t seem to be a group for that. What should I do?

This is a perfect opportunity to create a new group! If you like something in particular, there’s an excellent chance that others do, too. Simply go to the main Groups page and click the button on the right called "Create Group." For step-by-step instructions on creating a group, please download our tutorial on How to Create a Group (PDF).

What are the differences between public, request-only, and invitation-only groups?

• Public Group – Anyone can view a public group’s content and member list, and anyone is welcome to join. You must be a group member in order to participate in group discussions and add personal content (e.g., photos, videos, and journals).

• Request-Only Group – As with a public group, anyone can view a request-only group’s content and member list. Anyone can join, but the group owner or a group moderator must also approve the request. You must be a group member in order to participate in group discussions and add personal content (e.g., photos, videos, and journals).

• Invitation-Only Group - People must be invited to join the group. Only members of the group can participate in group discussions and add personal content. Invitation-only groups do not appear in public AARP.org search results or the main groups directory.

What is a group owner? What’s the difference between an owner and a moderator?

Groups allow for three levels of users: owner, moderators, and members. The group owner is the user who originally created the group. This person has complete authority and is able to:

• Start a new discussion topic

• Reply to discussion topics and posts

• Add personal content (e.g., photos, videos, and journals)

• Remove personal content

• Remove group members’ content

• Send a message to all group members

• Approve or deny users’ requests to join group (if the group access level is "request-only")

• Remove group member

• Grant moderator rights to group members

• Change group picture or group privacy setting

Group owners can promote one or more group members to the status of moderator. At the moderator level, users can perform all of the functions above with the exception of granting moderator rights. Members of a group can start a new discussion topic, reply to topics, add personal content, and remove personal content.

I’ve just been made a group moderator. What next?

Congratulations! You’re now in a great position to help the group grow and prosper. You can start by inviting your friends and family to join the group—the more, the merrier. To stimulate group activity, you may want to keep an eye on daily discussions and weigh in with your own thoughts. When group members share photos, videos, and journals, check to make sure the content abides by the Terms of Service. And if you come across a troublemaker in the group who refuses to play by the rules, you do have the power to remove him or her from the group.

Can I edit my posts?

Within the first hour of posting a topic or replying to a topic, you will have the ability to edit your post. The Edit option, marked with the pencil icon, is displayed in the post during this time.

Is there an easy way to print a specific topic and all of its related posts?

Yes! Simply click on the Print button to the right of the topic title. That button will provide you with a printer-friendly version of the topic and its posts.

Someone just created a group with offensive content. What can I do?

You can anonymously report a group by using the Report This Group link on the left underneath the group owner and moderator(s). It will ask you for a reason why the group violates AARP.org's Terms of Service (e.g. profanity, advertising). We will quickly investigate and take action as needed.

Photos and Videos

Get help uploading, tagging, and sharing your personal photos and videos.

I’m having trouble adding a photo to my personal profile.

For step-by-step instructions on adding photos to your profile, please watch our video tutorial or download How to Upload Your Photos (PDF).

If you are having technical difficulties with the uploading process, please visit our Community Help group for assistance—and encouragement! Be sure to include what kind of computer, browser, and operating system you’re using so that we can troubleshoot your specific issue.

How do I share my photos and videos?

We know you’ll want to share all of your great content! Here are some options:

• When you upload photos or videos, select "public" so that everyone visiting AARP.org can view them.

• Use the E-mail link under a particular photo or video to e-mail it to someone.

• Add tags to your photos and videos so that users can search for them by keyword.

• Add your photos and videos to any groups you have joined.

• Send your personal Web address (e.g. www.aarp.org/community/yourname) to friends and family.

How do I remove one of my photos/videos from my personal profile?

To remove a photo or video, please follow these steps:

1. Click on the photo or video you want to remove.

2. Beneath the photo or video, you will see a Delete link.

3. Click the Delete button, and this will allow you to remove the photo or video from your profile.

How do I add my photos and videos to a group?

You can share your photos and videos with any group of which you are a member. Keep in mind that every piece of content needs to be associated with a personal profile, so make sure that you add the content to your profile before adding it to a group. (For step-by-step instructions on adding photos to your profile, please download How to Upload Your Photos.)

To add a photo or video to a group:

1. Click on the photo or video that you would like to share.

2. Locate the Groups header on the right-hand side of the page. If you have not yet shared this piece of content with any group, it will say "no groups selected."

3. Click the Choose link, and that will provide you with a list of all the groups to which you belong. Then simply click on the group name(s) where you'd like to share your photo or video.

What is a "tag"?

"Tags" are like keywords for your photos/videos that help make them easy to find and categorize. So if you have a snapshot of your grandkids building a sandcastle on the beach, you might use tags like "children," "beach," and "sandcastle." When a user searches for "beach," he or she will see your photo along with many other beach-related photos and videos within the Online Community.

You can add tags to a photo during the upload process. If the photo is already in your profile, simply click on it and look for the "Tags" title on the right-hand side of the page. Click the "Choose" link to add tags to your photo.

How many tags should I add to a photo/video?

While there is no magic number, you may want to stick to the top few words you’d use to associate with that photo or video.

I found a photo/video in the Online Community that I’d like to keep.

Every photo and video within the Online Community belongs to a registered user of the Online Community. If you find something that interests you, you can:

• Bookmark the photo or video for easy reference.

• Contact the owner directly by leaving a comment or by sending a message.

What kinds of photo and video files can I upload? Are there size limits?

You can upload JPG photo files up to 10MB each. Acceptable video formats are: AVI, MPG/MPEG, WMV, MOV, and FLV, and the maximum file size is 100MB. Please note that due to variations in the way these kinds of video files can be created, not all files will work (even if they are in one of the above formats).

My video format is supported by the AARP.org Online Community, but it doesn't work when I upload it to my profile. (An error message appears, or the video appears distorted or otherwise is not viewable.)

Some video formats work better than others. Even files in the same nominal format may contain video information encoded in different ways. A good rule to follow when creating video files that you'd like to feature is not to use the latest or most advanced settings that are available. For example, if you are using Windows Movie Maker, you may opt to encode for Windows Media 11; for the AARP.org Online Community, though, you should target an older version, such as 7 or 9.

Why can't I upload my (SWF/QTL/MSWMM) file?

Unfortunately, some formats are not suitable for conversion. The above file formats are all examples of files that only seem to contain video--but the real video information is elsewhere. For instance, an SWF (Flash ShockWave File) may appear to be the source of video content, but Flash video is really stored in an FLV (Flash Video) format that is then loaded into an SWF for playback. To upload this kind of video, you need the source FLV.

There are many instances where file formats are actually video "metafiles." These are files that only contain references to other files, along with descriptive information called "metadata." Files of this type contain no actual video content and therefore cannot be converted.

If you suspect that your file is in fact a metafile, take a look at the file size. Any video more than a few seconds long will exceed one megabyte in size; but if it's a metafile, it will probably only be a few kilobytes in size. This can be a useful test, especially with formats that may contain either actual video or only metadata, such as Quicktime MOVs.

Games

For issues with AARP.org’s online games, try a little technical troubleshooting.

How do I play the online games and puzzles?

For complete information and instructions, visit our Games Web page.

What are the system requirements to play the games on this Web site?

PC users will need:

• Windows 95/98/ME/NT/XP or 2000

• Adobe Flash Player version 10.0.22.87

• Pentium-compatible processor running at 450Mhz or faster

• Minimum 128 Mb of RAM, Internet Explorer 6.0 or later, Firefox 2.0 or later, America Online 9.0 or later

Apple users will need:

• Adobe Flash Player version 10.0.22.87

• Apple Macintosh (Mac OS), Mac OS 10.1 or later

• PowerPC Processor running at 500Mhz or faster, minimum 128 MB of RAM Firefox 2.x or later, Safari 3 or later, AOL for Mac OSX, and Opera 9.5

How do I allow cookies on my computer?

In Internet Explorer, follow these steps to allow cookies:

1. Click on Tools in the main menu bar.

2. Choose Internet Options, and click the Privacy tab at the top.

3. Then click Advanced and check the boxes that allow cookies.

4. Save your changes.

How do I enable Java on my computer?

In Internet Explorer, follow these steps to enable Java:

1. Click on Tools in the main menu bar.

2. Choose Internet Options, and click the Advanced tab at the top.

3. Scroll down a bit and look for Java on the list. Make sure that the box next to it is checked. If it is not checked, go ahead and check the box.

4. Click Apply and then OK. Try to load the puzzle again.

If you don't see Java on the list by clicking on Internet Options and Advanced, you may not have the program installed on your machine. If that is the case, go to http://www.java.com/en/download/windows_xpi.jsp to download it for free.

The puzzle is loading, but it's an old puzzle. Why isn't it loading the latest one?

Sometimes old puzzles will reload when your Web browser's cache is clogged with cookies. You can solve this problem by clearing the cache and deleting cookies.

Follow these steps if you are using Internet Explorer:

1. Click on Tools in the main menu bar.

2. Choose Internet Options.

3. Click Delete Cookies, then OK.

4. Once that process has finished, click Delete Files, then OK.

5. Go back and reload the puzzle screen.

The jigsaw puzzle used to load just fine. Now it won't come up. What can I do?

This could be the result of a number of factors, including software updates or security settings. The first step to fix the problem would be to conduct a complete uninstall and then reinstall of the Adobe Flash player.

To do this, go to the Control Panel, and then click on Add/Remove Programs. Locate the Adobe Flash player and remove it completely. Next, go to http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/, and follow the directions to download and reinstall the application.

What programs or plug-ins do I need to run the games?

Programs like Flash and Shockwave allow us to deliver the most engaging, compelling, and interesting entertainment content on the Web. All games require Adobe Flash, and you can download it for free at http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/.

Your AARP.org Account

Find out how simple it is to create and update your AARP.org account.

How do I control how many e-mail notifications I want to receive?

You can easily specify how and when you'd like to be contacted using your Settings screen.

1. Go to your profile page.

2. Click on the Settings button under your profile picture.

3. Scroll down to Notifications where you'll find a list of actions. Check the boxes to indicate when you'd like to be contacted, and whether you’d like to be notified by e-mail or via your AARP.org Message Center. Or both!

I use the current AARP.org message boards, and my member name is "JohnDoe." How can I make sure that I keep my member name in the new AARP.org Online Community?

Your member name is now referred to as your "user name" in the new Online Community. When you sign up for AARP.org, be sure to enter your current member name when it asks for a user name. If it is no longer available, then you will need to select a new user name.

Can I change my user name?

You cannot change your user name, so please choose carefully when you sign up on AARP.org.

How do I change the e-mail address associated with my AARP.org profile?

1. Go to your profile page.

2. Click the Settings button under your profile picture.

3. Your current e-mail address will be listed under your Account Information tab.

4. Click the Change link next to your e-mail address.

5. The link will take you to a page where you can enter a new e-mail address.

6. After you click Submit, you will be required to log in again using your new e-mail address.

Help! I forgot my password.

This happens to the best of us. Just click on the "Forgot your password?" link on the sign-in page, and we will e-mail you a temporary password. When you log back in using the temporary password, you will be asked to reset your password.

How do I add or change my profile picture?

1. Go to your profile page.

2. Click the Edit button under the blue silhouette picture.

3. On the Edit My Profile page, you will find the My Picture field at the top of the page.

4. Click the Browse button to open your computer's file directory so that you can search for the picture you want. Select a file and click the Open button.

5. The picture's file path will now appear in the My Picture field.

6. Scroll to the bottom of the Edit My Profile page and click the Save Changes button.

7. Your new picture will now appear as your profile image.

If you would like to update your picture in the future, simply repeat this process.

How do I subscribe or unsubscribe from AARP newsletters sent by e-mail?

Users may subscribe or unsubscribe to a newsletter by any of the following methods:

1. Users may subscribe by going to the newsletter-promotion box located on any AARP Web page and selecting the "Subscribe" button.

2. Users may unsubscribe by selecting the appropriate link located at the footer of any e-newsletter.

3. Registered Users may also subscribe or unsubscribe from their profile page by selecting "Settings" and then clicking on the Subscription option.

4. Non-Registered Users may also subscribe or unsubscribe by first creating their Online Community Profile, selecting "Settings", and then the "Subscription" option.

Privacy and Security

Find ways to stay safe online and adjust your privacy settings to your comfort level.

How can I protect my privacy?

We take privacy matters very seriously on AARP.org. Our Web site features special settings that allow you to control how much personal information you want to share. Your last name, zip code, and e-mail address are always hidden from public view. To hide more of your personal details from view, you can:

1. Go to your profile page.

2. Click the Edit button under your profile picture.

3. On the Edit My Profile page, select the Hide option (under Display Setting on the right) for the information fields you would like to keep private.

What if I don't want to share my photos, videos, and journals with others?

Every time you add a photo, video, or journal to your personal profile, you will be asked to select from three privacy levels:

• Public - Everyone can see your photo, video, or journal

• Family and Friends - Only your circle of Online Community friends can view your photo, video, or journal

• Private - Your photo, video, or journal is for your personal enjoyment alone

Can I change my mind once I've designated a photo, video, or journal as public or private?

Absolutely! If, for example, you select Public but later decide that you want to change it to Private, simply click on that photo, video, or journal and locate the Details box on the right-hand side. Then use the drop-down menu to modify the privacy level.

I like the idea of keeping a journal online, but I don't want the whole world reading my personal thoughts.

No problem! You can create a new journal and designate it as Private so that it's for your personal reflection only.

I don't want users to be able to search for my profile. What are my options?

You have the ability to hide your personal profile from the People Search results. To hide your profile, click on the Settings button under your profile picture. Under your Account Information tab, click the box that says "Hide my AARP.org community profile from search results." Then click the blue Save Changes button at the bottom of the page.

I received a message in my Message Center from someone I don't know. Should I respond?

Be careful and use your best judgment! While AARP.org tries to foster a safe and secure Online Community, the Internet is plagued with con artists and scammers who will try to take advantage of unsuspecting users. For example, if a message includes requests for money or inappropriate romantic overtures, you should report it to community@aarp.org.

Our Message Center provides a convenient way to send a private message to another user, but we recommend that you join groups for a more diverse and coordinated means of discussion among Online Community users.

Someone in the Online Community is bothering me. Help!

We recommend that you block the user by going to his or her profile page and clicking the Block This User link underneath his or her background information. Blocked users can still view your profile and interact with you in group forums, but they cannot send you friend requests, notes to your Message Center, or leave comments on your profile or personal content.

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