Social distancing policies don’t mean that socializing stops. Much of today’s socialization is now done through live streaming technology, allowing individuals to interact and engage safely.

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And what is one of the most popular activities, online and in person? Trivia! Virtual trivia is a great opportunity to flex your mental muscles, get a little competitive, and enjoy the company around you. (Check out your own trivia knowledge in the list of virtual trivia question ideas for seniors below.)

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And itallows for healthy, safe socialization where the players can have fun and make friends from the safety of their homes. 

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Transitioning from in-person trivia to gaming on a live streaming platform can sometimes be a little daunting, especially when you’re working with an older population.

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But, it is one of the best and easiest games to translate into the virtual world! One company that organizes trivia nights created a $2.5 million business through live streaming virtual trivia. 

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Even if that’s not your goal, there are certain tips and tricks to follow to make virtual trivia the best socially distant online activity you can. Catering to seniors is not necessarily a straightforward task, so here’s how you can bring the fun of virtual programming to them.

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Ready to just get signed up for free virtual trivia for adults 65+ (plus a ton of other fun events!)? Sign up today for our two-week free trial!

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Or if you work with a senior community and want us to bring the trivia to them, send us an email here! 

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Setting Up Your Virtual Trivia

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First things first, get your live stream set up. No matter what platform you’re using, there are a few things to be careful of with virtual trivia for older adults. 

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1. Audio: Audio quality is a high priority no matter who you’re streaming to, but especially when it’s senior citizens. Your viewers may be hard of hearing, so make sure they can hear you and others clearly and consistently.
2. Video: Make sure your presentation uses a large font that’s easy to read. When you have senior viewers, they could have some vision issues, and lots of little text on a screen may discourage your older audience from engaging. 
3. Platform: Make sure you and your players know how to use whatever platform you choose. There are pros and cons to many of them, so do a little research before you start. It needs to be senior-friendly, so focus finding one with little set up, and higher security. At televëda, we developed our live streaming software for seniors in mind to ensure the best experience for them.

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Make Your Virtual Trivia Questions Senior-Specific

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When making the content, choose an appropriate level of challenge, and make them fun! Also, know your audience. Instead of talking about the most-used hashtag, try asking about music groups from the mid 1900s, political history, or science. 

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If you’re hosting more than once, create a bank of questions that you can come back to, and note the ones you already used. Picking a theme each week can help you narrow down question options, keep your audience engaged, and make sure your questions are updated. 

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Also, don’t forget to make your presentation engaging. Add GIFs, fun pictures, and some light music if possible (Jeopardy theme song anyone?)

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Virtual Trivia Question Ideas for Seniors

Here are some great ideas for virtual trivia questions for seniors. Feel free to take these virtual trivia question ideas and use them as inspiration for additional trivia and fun facts!

10 Virtual Trivia Topic Idea For Seniors 

1. Music from the 40s, 50s, 60s
2. Classic food and candy brands
3. American history (or your country’s history) 1940s-1980s 
4. Word scrambles
5. “Odd man out.” What word or concept doesn’t match? 
6. Movie and sports celebrities from the 40s and 50s
7. Famous authors and songwriters
8. Science facts 
9. Change the letter of the three words in each list to create three new words that all start with the same letter. For example, given the words whine, plant, and reason, what one letter can replace the first letter of each word to make three new words? S! 
10. Bird or other animal identification

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Virtual Trivia Questions for Seniors 

1. What has a face and two hands, but no arms or legs? A clock
2. Name two breeds of dogs that begin with the letter D. Dachshund and Dalmatian, and more! 
3. Name the author of David Copperfield and A Tale of Two Cities. Charles Dickens
4. Why are M&M's named M&M’s? They’re named after the two businessmen—Forrest Mars and Bruce Murrie—who developed and financed the candy-coated chocolates.
5. True or false – lightning is hotter than the sun. True
6. What war ended in April 1975 with the fall of Saigon? Vietnam War
7. In June 1971, the 26th Amendment passed giving 18-year-olds what right? The right to vote
8. What is the odd man out: Cherry; grapefruit; peach; plum. Grapefruit
9. In which film did Humphrey Bogart say, "We'll always have Paris?" Casablanca
10. What building is on the back of a $20? The White House
11. How many bones do sharks have in total? None, they only have cartilage. 
12. Which famous singer of the 40s and 50s had the nickname 'Ol' Blue Eyes'? Frank Sinatra
13. What is the National Dish of America? The hamburger
14. What is the nearest planet to the sun? Mercury
15. Name the 5 great lakes. Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior
16. Dr. Jonas Salk successfully created a vaccine for this disease in 1952. Polio
17. Who replaced the Shah of Iran in 1979? Ayatollah Khomeini
18. Name 3 movies directed by Alfred Hitchock. The Birds, Psycho, North by Northwest, and more! 
19. What occupation did the man have who invented cotton candy, which was originally called “Fairy Floss?” Believe it or not, a dentist! 
20. Independence Day was first established as a holiday by Congress in what year? 1870, and in 1938 it was established as a paid holiday for federal employees.

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Virtual Trivia Night Logistics

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You have to figure out how you want to run the game: individually, on teams, etc. Teams can be a great way to build camaraderie and socialization. Once that’s determined, make sure your viewers understand the rules, and how they can get points for their team.

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A lot of people shouting on live streaming at once can be a lot, so muting the audience and requiring hand raising can be a great option for answering questions.

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You can also go around and make sure everyone gets a turn answering a new question. This part really depends on the abilities of your audience, and also the style they prefer. 

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But, make sure you are catering to your older audience’s needs. Though having a large group playing is great (like these 3,000-strong Isolation Trivia events), a game with more manageable sizes will be more fun and engaging because it keeps it intimate and allows for conversation and friendship creation!

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You don’t want seniors to feel overwhelmed, or unable to join in because of the group size, so keep that in mind with organizing your virtual trivia nights.  

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Prizes are more challenging with online trivia, but whether it’s bragging rights or a virtual high five, make sure to congratulate the winners, as well as support every player too.

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Virtual Trivia Games are a Great Socialization Opportunity for Seniors

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Ready to host your own online game night right now? Or want to play with us? Televeda plays trivia twice a week to keep our seniors’ minds active through our curated Brain Games class.

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‍Check out this link for our upcoming Brain Games class schedule, and make sure to sign up for our two-week free trial, so your or your older loved one can give it a try!

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One last note: it’s important to make your trivia night engaging, exciting, and personalized. Keep your energy high, make eye contact with the camera, and use participants’ names if you know them!

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The point of virtual trivia for seniors is to keep your older audience socializing, and having fun together. 

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