According to 2017 Pew Research Center data, about a third of seniors over 65 use social media. Among seniors with a college education, that figure is 56%.
Seniors report that social media helps them stay in touch with their family, learn about news in their community, communicate more effectively with loved ones, and reach out to people from their past. Many young people rely solely or primarily on social media to communicate about their lives, so seniors may have better luck chatting with grandchildren and children through social media than through more traditional methods.
Facebook remains the most popular social media site, despite evidence that teens are beginning to abandon the social media giant. Seventy-nine percent of adults who use the Internet use Facebook, according to Pew Research Center data. If you want to use social media to stay in touch with loved ones, Facebook offers you access to the most people.
Facebook is also highly customizable. You can choose what to share and with whom to share it, set up custom friend groups, and easily control what you see and when you see it. Whether you want to follow the news or just your grandchildren, there’s something for most seniors on Facebook. Read more