Seniors and Social Media: Tips for Older Adults

In our always-online culture, social media has become an inescapable part of daily life, with roughly seven out of ten Americans saying they are active on at least one social media site. It should come as no surprise then, that social media use for seniors has been steadily growing.

Navigating both the potential benefits and pitfalls of social media can be challenging, even for digital natives who grew up using these platforms. In this post, we’ll break down the best social media platforms for seniors and provide social media tips for older adults looking to connect online.

Seniors and Social Media

It probably goes without saying that social media use is less prevalent among older adults than their younger counterparts.

However, studies show it is on the rise — 45% of adults aged 65 or older reported being active on social media. That number jumps to approximately 73% for those aged 50 to 64, showing that seniors will likely continue to be the largest growing demographics on social media. In fact, social media use for older adults has grown by as much as four times since 2010, while use in younger adults remained fairly consistent during that time.

Another study found that social media use was the primary activity for seniors who use smartphones, and older adults who use social media do so several times a week or even daily.

Benefits of Social Media Engagement for Older Adults

Social media use for seniors is primarily motivated by a desire to fulfill social and emotional needs — specifically as a tool to connect with family or friends. Older adults who use social media report feeling more socially connected, and increased daily social media use was associated with a more positive mood for seniors with smaller social networks.

Multiple studies have shown that older adults who use social media have been found to have increased social support and greater life satisfaction.

Best Social Media Platforms for Seniors

In terms of usage, Facebook and YouTube seem to be the best social media platforms for seniors according to the latest Pew Research Center Survey of U.S. Adults on Social Media Use. Their survey found that 65% of U.S. adults over the age of 65 said they watched YouTube on a regular basis, while 59% said they were active Facebook users.

Social media use for the elderly plummets on every other platform, with the next highest usage being Pinterest with only 22% of seniors saying they used the app.

How to Navigate Social Media as a Senior

Since many seniors may be new to social media, it is important to provide them with guidance for navigating their favorite apps safely:

1. Avoid sharing personal information online. Even sharing information with trusted family or friends through seemingly private channels like Facebook Messenger can open you up to a cybersecurity risk. This includes photos and video that may reveal information, like your street address, that hackers or scammers can use against you.
2. Watch out for scammers. Seniors are victims of fraud more than any other age group. Do your due diligence before giving your information to a giveaway, sweepstakes, or any other unfamiliar website. Tools like ScamAdviser can help seniors identify a scam before it happens.
3. Keep profiles private and only accept friend requests from people you know. Which leads to our next tip…
4. Never send money to someone you’ve met on social media. This technically falls under the “watch out for scammers” advice, but it’s such a prevalent problem that it deserves its own bullet point. Seniors are often targeted by scammers who build a relationship with their target over time before asking for financial assistance.
5. Don’t reveal OTHER people’s personal information. We’ve all heard the story of an excitable grandparent sharing photos or videos of their new grandchild on Facebook against their children’s wishes. Personal information is just that — PERSONAL — always get consent before sharing.

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