Most popular social media sites for older adults revealed by research

Looking to reach older adults via social media? Facebook by far is the most popular social media site used by those aged 50 to 64 years as well as those aged 65 or more years, according to a new report by the Pew Research Center.

Sixty percent of those aged 50 to 64 who are online, and 45 percent of online adults aged at least 65, use Facebook, researchers found. The next most popular social media site among users in both groups is LinkedIn, followed by Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram. (See table.)

The percentage of 65+ Facebook users in late 2013 jumped 10 percent from late 2012. LinkedIn usage among those in the 50-to-64 age range was greater than it was for those aged 18 to 29; LinkedIn was the only social media site examined where this difference existed.

Facebook was the most popular social media site among all 1,445 online adults surveyed. Of those adults, 401 were aged 50 to 64 years, and 248 were older than 65.

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Lois Bowers

Lois A. Bowers was senior editor of I Advance Senior Care / Long-Term Living from 2013-2015.