In the beginning, there was social media, and it was good. But it didn’t take long for enterprising marketers, scammers, and other predators to turn social media for seniors from a fun and fast way to connect with family and friends into a swamp swarming with threats. But social media for seniors can still be safe if seniors understand the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects.
The good can be very good
The exponential growth of online technologies offers seniors many ways to make life easier, more fun, and even safer, and that includes social media for seniors. The key is to understand what benefits each app offers seniors. The seniorliving.org article, “Best Social Media Apps for Seniors in 2026,” is a great place to begin learning about different social media platforms and their pros and cons.
For example, in addition to the well-known apps like Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, seniors can get together on Threads and share news and information, while those who love science and the outdoors can join with others of like mind on iNaturalist to explore worldwide biodiversity as well as flora and fauna close to home. Other helpful options include Nextdoor, which helps seniors keep tabs on what’s happening in their neighborhood and around town, and Pinterest, which is great for sharing everything from recipes to gardening tips to decorating and crafting.
There are also social media platforms designed just for seniors like two from AARP: Senior Planet, which offers a wide variety of classes, videos, and articles, and AARP Now to keep members updated.
The bad can be pretty bad
Social media makes it relatively easy for seemingly friendly predators to locate potential victims, and the pitfalls are many. For example, check out the seniors hcsk.org article, “Latest Senior Online-Fraud Alerts & Cases” that updates seniors on some of the reported scams occurring right now across the country as well as ways some states are trying to protect seniors.
The really scary thing about these scams is that because they often occur through trusted social media for seniors, they have an air of legitimacy, and even tech-savvy seniors can easily fall for them. And scammers are very good at what they do, so they can make the most far-fetched scam seem reasonable.
To get a feel for the scope and cost of scams affecting seniors, the forbes.com article, “FTC Report: Seniors Lost Billions To Scams—Key Insights And Prevention Tips,” reports that U.S. seniors’ monetary losses increased a whopping 400% from 2020 to 2024 when they reached $2.4 billion. Sadly, this amount is likely well below the actual losses because many seniors are too embarrassed to report being scammed.
But there is hope through education and action. As noted in the uthsc.edu article, “Protecting Yourself on Social Media,” AARP reported that among reported money losses by seniors in 2021, 1 in 4 started on social media, and racked up estimated losses of $770 million.
That said, the article recommends several steps to stay safe on social media for seniors including:
- Use privacy settings to set restrictions.
- Respond to requests for money from known individuals by calling them, not responding on social media, because they may not be who you think they are.
- Be wary of new “friends” who seem in a rush to take the relationship to a romantic level.
- Consider all requests for payment through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency highly suspect.
From bad to just plain ugly
Social media for seniors has another dark side of which many seniors may not be aware: negative effects on mental health.
According to the helpguide.org article, “Social Media and Mental Health,” excessive use of social media can become like an addiction and bring about increased mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. While moderate use of social media for seniors can help them stay connected, learn new things, and meet new friends, overuse can reverse that good.
Like an addiction to alcohol or gambling, too much social media for seniors can “trigger the release of dopamine in the brain,” which can in turn create cravings for more. This can result in increased feelings of loneliness, sadness, anxiety, isolation, and even depression.
The key to safe use of social media for seniors is to maintain balance by limiting use. The article notes that a 2018 study by the University of Pennsylvania found that restricting use to 30 minutes a day is a good rule of thumb.
Check us out on Facebook, and for more information about Countryside, please call Margaret Nagel at (517) 206-5000 or download our brochure to learn about our care levels, cost, and amenities.
