Social Media Use Shifts with Age, Study Finds

Interestingly, as we age, it seems we’re more drawn to social media. A new study has revealed some intriguing insights into how different age groups engage with online platforms.

According to research carried out by Socialprofiler, an AI-driven platform, older generations tend to be more vocal about political issues on social media compared to their younger counterparts, who seem to concentrate on actual topics rather than partisan squabbles.

Socialprofiler analyzed around 756 million profiles across prominent social media sites, leading to findings that contradict some common stereotypes. CEO Tony Noskoff noted that, “Political discussions are not quite popular among younger users. Instead, they engage more with activism and activities that aren’t purely political.”

The study looked at the posts that various age groups engaged with on platforms like X, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. It showed that Gen Z often interacts with progressive political content and social justice issues, while Millennials and Gen X are more inclined towards traditional partisanship.

“It appears that the most heated political discussions take place between older generations, like parents and older siblings, who use social media to voice their ideological views,” the study indicates.

This aligns with other observations suggesting that older individuals may spend excessive time online, often getting lost in the intricacies of social media. A survey conducted by Talker Research in September 2025 revealed that adults over 50 spend about 22 hours weekly on screens, which includes scrolling through social networks.

Data from the University of Colorado Boulder further points out that those over 55 are considerably more likely to spread political misinformation compared to younger users. As people age, their views seem to become more partisan, potentially skewing their online interactions. Research published in November 2025 highlighted this trend.

The phenomenon of political polarization appears to intensify with age, with older adults showing an increasing interest in conspiracy theories, ranging from UFOs to fundamental alternative views of the world.

On the flip side, younger generations—like Zoomers—tend to focus on problem-solving and often explore more niche interests, such as tarot, magic, and spiritual topics. The study suggests that this reflects varied forms of escapism rather than just a shift towards rational scientific beliefs.

When asked about the generational divide in belief in conspiracy theories, Noskoff admitted uncertainty, hinting that more research would be forthcoming.

In general, Republicans tend to draw more interaction from users, but it’s not surprising that Democrats engage more with younger audiences. In particular, issues like climate change and LGBTQ+ rights capture Zoomers’ attention.

The Black Lives Matter movement serves as an example where disengagement has been noted among younger audiences regarding non-political content.

Interestingly, while there’s a decline in religion among American youth, Social Profiler found that some religious movements, especially Islam, are gaining traction. The researchers theorized that conventional religion is slowly giving way to alternative, often metaphysical, worldviews.

The study also determined that X stands out for discussions on politics, news, and science, while Instagram takes the lead in lifestyle content, and TikTok shines as a platform for youth and identity expression.

Socialprofiler’s comprehensive study on U.S. social media represents the culmination of two years spent building an analytical database. Although it didn’t assess private accounts, the research gleaned valuable insights from user interactions across various platforms.

Marohnic, COO of Socialprofiler, explained that “we evaluated a wide array of sites, from LinkedIn to Twitter and Facebook to Instagram,” emphasizing that most users generally have at least one public profile.

The company estimates that about 65% of social media accounts are public, with the remainder being private, depending on the platform.