Boomers Increase Use of Social Networking Sites 88%, Nearly Half Those 50+ Are Users

A Pew Internet study revealed that use of social networking Web sites among baby boomers increased strongly between 2009 and 2010; with respondents aged 50 years and higher increasing their use of networking sites 88% to reach 47% of the demographic. Respondents 65-plus doubled their use of social networking sites, to 26%, making these boomers the fastest growing subgroup. A cooperative study with ComScore, meanwhile, shows that baby boomers who are taking care of aging parents are even heavier users of social networking sites than boomers in general. Estimated to number 15.5 million of the 78 million boomer population, boomer caregivers use social media sites for 2.5 hours per month, viewing 70% more Web pages than average Internet users, to validate their feelings; simplify their lives; and get information and advice.