Turns out older adults are using social media like Facebook and Instagram to fill the gap left by fewer in-person interactions. A study by the University of Alabama in Huntsville, the first of its kind for the 50-plus age group, spilled the beans on how older peeps leverage social media.
54% of social media users in this demographic don't fully trust the platforms. Blame it on the lack of research, 'cause most studies are usually done on college students. But when they looked into how Baby Boomers used Instagram, surprise, there was hardly anything out there.
The study split the older folks into Baby Boomers (50-74) and Traditionalists (75+). Guess what? Both groups preferred using Facebook (about four times more than Instagram). While younger generations might be Instagramming their every move, older adults are slowly catching up, using it for storytelling and self-promotion.
The study discovered something unexpected. Socially active Baby Boomers use Instagram not just for documentation but to show off too. Those more satisfied used social media less to alleviate loneliness. And here's an interesting tidbit: compared to younger users, older ones use social media for diversion and entertainment, but they still prefer face-to-face interactions for relationship maintenance.
Older Instagrammers with regular face-to-face contact used it less for self-promotion, and Facebook users who found richness in their offline social lives were less likely to use it for making new acquaintances.
Most participants in the study were women, so more research is needed for a balanced perspective. The takeaway? Social media is a lifeline for positive aging, helping compensate for the lack of face-to-face interactions.
As Always,
You Just Need To Be You
Cheers,
The Socialode Team
