More seniors are signing up to Facebook and Twitter - study
Oct 16, 2015 07:48 AM EDT
The latest study from Pew Research Center has revealed that two-thirds of Americans are now using some form of social media, a surprising portion of this coming from Americans of the age 65 and above.
The change in social media use observed with older people reveals a new possibility for online advertisers and marketers and has placed seniors in the spotlight after the published study on Pew's website.
Social media use among Americans of 65 years old and above have tripled in the last five years. From a percentage of 11 from 2010, the number has now grown to a sizeable 35 percent.
An article published by Inc. recommends companies to rethink their social media strategy, favoring the target of senior citizens who are now becoming increasingly active on sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Adult Americans have also shown a steady climb in numbers according to the Pew study, from only 6% from the 30 to 49 age bracket last 2006 to a whopping 77% for 2015. Although the percentage of social media use within younger users have been impressively high, the most striking of all would have to be the recent spike observed among the seniors.
According to an article published on Senior Care Corner, more and more seniors are participating in social media use and "are jumping on board Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more."
The senior care resource website states a number of advantages that seniors can get when they are more proactive online, which include the following: it keeps family members close, easier photo and video sharing, access to discounts and other opportunities to save, community belonging, among others.
Because other age groups are already highly active in social media, the only change companies and establishments have to make is to include the targeting of senior citizens, which Jakob Nielson of the Nielsen Norman Group calls "the last internet frontier."