This is a uses and gratifications study looking at how older adults, people aged 50 and older, use Facebook. A survey (N=218) revealed older adults are drawn to Facebook by two primary factors, Mood Management (entertainment and emotional connectivity) and Social Action (express opinions and news, and establish relationships). The most popular activity among the sample was playing games and using other entertainment Facebook apps, followed by browsing friends' profiles and photos. Content creation and communication were less popular among this age group, with only a third (roughly 30% of respondents) engaged in such activities. The study discusses additional findings and implications, and it is one of the very few studies looking at the social networking uses and gratifications of older adults.
Article
Older adults on Facebook: A survey examination of motives and use of social networking by people 50 and older.
USF St. Petersburg campus Faculty Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2012
Disciplines
Abstract
Comments
Abstract only. Full-text article is available only through licensed access provided by the publisher. Published in Florida Communication Journal 40(2), 1-12.
Language
en_US
Publisher
Florida Communication Association
Creative Commons License
Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0
Citation Information
Ancu, M. (2012). Older adults on Facebook: A survey examination of motives and use of social networking by people 50 and older. Florida Communication Journal 40(2), 1-12.