The fastest-growing demographic on Fb, seniors are flocking to social media like by no means earlier than. And it’s not simply Fb that’s seeing an inflow of the older technology. An increasing number of over-65’s are additionally becoming a member of Instagram and Twitter.
Not solely do folks use social media to meet up with household and mates, and share their lives with folks they don’t essentially see day by day, however it’s additionally more and more turning into how folks view and sustain with information and present affairs. The identical goes for the senior demographic.
Seniors on social in numbers
In Australia, 89% of on-line shoppers use social media. That is up from 79% in 2017. Whereas not the biggest group on social media platforms, seniors are nonetheless signing up in hoards. Of the above quantity, 30% of individuals aged between 50 and 64, and 24% of individuals over the age of 65 entry social media websites at the very least as soon as a day.
In response to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the inhabitants is now sitting above 25 million folks. And based on the Yellow Social Media Report, there are 15 million Australians utilizing the platform. That’s 60% of the Australian inhabitants.
Whereas the vast majority of these customers are between the ages of 25 and 55, the 55-plus age group nonetheless represents an honest 2.8 million customers, with 4 in 5 of these surveyed by Australian Seniors reporting that they use social media platforms.
The advantages of utilizing social media
Numerous research have proven that the web, and certainly, social media, has grow to be an necessary instrument in lowering isolation, loneliness, and depressive signs in those that use it, together with seniors. If that’s not a big sufficient profit, listed here are some others.
Keep up a correspondence
Social media is a superb method to keep up a correspondence with folks world wide. Whether or not it’s sharing footage, sharing tales or sharing information, tens of millions of individuals go online to social media platforms day by day simply to see what’s occurring of their community of household, mates and even acquaintances. For seniors, it’s additionally a good way to seek out folks they could have misplaced contact with over time and to keep up a correspondence with their grandchildren. Social media actually has revolutionized the way in which folks join.
Keep updated
For a lot of social media customers, it’s not nearly staying in contact with household and mates, it’s additionally about staying in contact with world information and present occasions. At the moment’s technology of seniors follows information websites, sports activities groups and even folks of pursuits on social media platforms comparable to Instagram and Twitter. For a lot of world wide, no matter age, social media is the place we get our information and sometimes, it’s the place information breaks the quickest.
Interplay and leisure
There’s one thing delightfully charming about all of these cat movies and why ought to the grandparents of the world miss out? Whether or not it’s following an entertainer they love on social media or watching clips from comedians, anybody might be entertained on social media. Plus, there are communities on the market primarily based on completely something. Like to bake? Discover a baking group and take part on the dialog–they’re taking place on Fb and Twitter.
Be cautious
There’s no denying that the advantages of social media far outweigh the advantages of not being on there. Even when it’s simply creating an account on Instagram to observe the folks you care about, you’re nonetheless participating with these round you. Simply keep in mind to by no means overshare info, particularly private particulars, all the time ask earlier than you publish an image of somebody, invite and settle for buddy requests correctly and attempt to keep away from courting controversial matters.
Luke Fitzpatrick
Luke Fitzpatrick is a Forbes contributor and a visitor lecturer at Sydney College—in his previous, he labored for startups in each South Korea and Australia.
