Social networking use among internet users ages 50 and older nearly doubled last year

A report published by Pew Internet has found that social media use amongst ages of 50+ has nearly doubled last year.

Delving into the study in more detail brings up some interesting reasons as to why social media is becoming more favourable with the older generations. Below are some interesting findings from the study:

• About half of all social networking users ages 50 and older said they had been contacted by someone from their past who found them online. Overall, 64% of social networking users have searched for information about someone from their past, compared with 30% of non-users.
• Older adults are more likely to be living with a chronic disease , and those living with these diseases are more likely to reach out for support online.
• And finally, social media bridges generational gaps. While the results can sometimes be messy, these social spaces pool together users from very different parts of people’s lives and provide the opportunity to share skills across generational divides.