People’s views of social media can vary widely depending on their hobbies, way of life, and age. Every generation’s social media usage has altered to different extents since COVID-19.
The typical user now spends more time on the network and posts more frequently. In this evolving landscape, some users even buy Instagram followers to boost their online presence and engage with a larger audience.
Nevertheless, with demographic choices between age groups, social media has become user-friendly for all age groups. Let us look more at this in this blog.
Different Age Groups Who Use Social Media
Everyone uses social media as a platform for entertainment. Let us explore some of the age groups who use social media.
1. Gen Z
Those born between 1996 and 2010 are Generation Z. The digital age, COVID-19, changing financial conditions, and environmental fear have all influenced this generation’s identity.
- Range of Birth Year: 1996 – 2010
- Age in 2024: 11-26
- Popular Social Media Platforms Used: Tiktok, Instagram, and Snapchat
Gen Z views social media very differently from previous generations. Young people just beginning to follow news prefer social media to more traditional sources like newspapers, radio stations, and television. Gen Z’s internet searches reflect this tendency.
Prabhakar Raghavan, a Google Search executive, reportedly said that almost 40% of Gen Z searches on social media because they think Google Search results are “anything but organic.”
Zoomers seek solutions in user-generated content (UGC) that other users have shared on social media sites like TikTok. In other words, gaining Gen Z’s confidence on social media will require extra effort for businesses and marketers.
2. Millennials
Millennials, also known as Generation Y, are an age group between Gen X and Gen Z. Because the eldest members of this generation reached adulthood at the start of the new century, they are known as Millennials.
- Range of Birth Year: 1980 – 1995
- Age in 2024: 27-42
- Popular Social Media Platforms Used: Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
One of the main motivations for social media use among millennials is identity building, which involves managing your online persona to influence how others see you.
Consider how your brand can help followers build their digital identities on social media. Provide high-quality, shareable, and values-driven material so followers can further identify as active participants in the virtual space.
3. Generation X
Known as the “MTV Generation,” Gen Xers, or members of the generational cohort born between 1965 and 1980, are likely most familiar with these references. Generation X was raised on grunge, early hip-hop, and punk music.
- Range of Birth Year: 1965 – 1980
- Age in 2024: 44 – 59
- Popular Social Media Platforms Used: LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook
Gen X is a crucial target market for social media commerce due to their commercial solid purpose and far higher purchasing power than the typical millennial or Zoomer.
This generation is possibly eager to purchase and somewhat well-off, but a lot depends on whether or not they believe a brand to be “authentic.”
It’s also important to remember that Gen X is often overlooked when it comes to social media marketing compared to younger generations and baby boomers.
4. Baby Boomers And Older Generations
The phrase “baby boomer” refers to people born between 1946 and 1964. This generation comprises a significant fraction of the global population, particularly in industrialized nations.
- Range of Birth Year: 1946 – 1964
- Age in 2024: 60 – 78 and older.
- Popular Social Media Platforms Used: Facebook and Whatsapp
Compared to other age groups, the typical member of this generation typically has quite positive sentiments toward social media. 83.9% of boomers, compared to 71.6% of Gen X and 66.4% of millennials, believe that social media is enhancing their lives, according to a security.org poll.
Regarding social media, baby boomers are mostly in acceptance, with many of those limited to Facebook.
Poor customer service and excessive advertising are two reasons why people in this age range stop following businesses on social media. Remembering this, you should be kind, but not careless, when interacting with baby boomers.
Facts About The Actual Age Range Of Social Media Users
Social media is a vital tool for businesses to connect with and interact with their customers. However, many businesses persist with the common misconception that young people only utilize social media.
Here are a few facts about the actual age range of social media users that you should consider for business strategy.
- Over 72% of Americans between the ages of 50 and 64 and 45% of those over 65 use Facebook. Thus, Facebook may be useful for connecting with people from older generations if that is part of the target audience.
- Although TikTok is a relatively new platform, it has become quite popular with people of any age. In the US, 38% of TikTok users are over thirty.
- LinkedIn is a professional networking site that companies use for marketing. With more than 294 million active users per month, it serves as a platform for companies wishing to connect with professionals and create leads in addition to job searchers.
- Plenty of users use Pinterest as a visual discovery site for many purposes. Users of all ages can benefit from the platform’s adaptability. Of the viewers, 28% are older than 50, while 34% are between the ages of 30 and 49.
Conclusion
Social media is a very user-friendly platform that caters to various age groups. Proper usage of these platforms can benefit you a lot. You can use these tips and trends to get a broader perspective of all age groups.
You can also get help from various reputable platforms like Thunderclap.it. It offers growth services to skyrocket your social media presence by providing real and organic followers, likes, and views.
