Grandmas and Grandpas catching up with the Social Media Presence

According to a new study by Pew Internet & American life project, social networking site usage grew 88% among Internet users aged 55-64, and the 65 and older group’s social networking presence grew 100% in the same time frame between April 2009 and May 2010.

I am guessing they’re on finally realizing FaceBook is a great way to connect with their children, grandchildren and share family pictures, in my experience.

Young people still dominate Facebook, but their usage only grew 13% during the year covered by Pew’s report. Older adults are catching up at an incredibly quick pace, though it remains to be seen whether they will pass the youth or hit a ceiling at or below the usage levels reported by young adults and teens.

So, does this mean that the fastest growing segment in Social Media is Grandma & Grandpa?

Older adults who use services like Twitter or Facebook are still in the minority amidst their peers. Pew reported about 10 months ago that 19% of all Internet users use status updates, but only one in ten Internet users aged 50 and older used status updates or read ones written by others. That’s a lot more than there used to be, but it’s still a small group — especially when you consider the fact that Pew’s numbers only cover people who are on the Internet at all. Many people in that age group aren’t going online to begin with.

Anyway, this is all good! we may now be able to come across our elders within in reach and within the network. So, old generation is fast catching up, and now no one can blame them that they do not understand the Gen-X.

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