Older adults on Facebook: A survey examination of motives and use of social networking by people 50 and older.

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.