Yes, Boomers Have Found Social Media. Next?

It’s always nice to find new research that supports so much that has gone before. In this instance, I refer to a press release from the Continuum Crew announcing that baby boomers are “emerging as New Social Media Mavens.” The survey covered 700 respondents from the Greenfield Online Panel, ages 35 and older.

My upcoming report, Boomers and Social Media, shows that boomers are flocking to Facebook. The main reason is the same as every other generation has adopted social networking: They want to be connected to family and friends. In fact, boomers are more open to meeting new people through social networks than any other generation, according to a survey by EuroRSCG Worldwide.

With all the boomers crowding on to Facebook, some media outlets wondered if they weren’t chasing away younger networkers. That does not seem to be the case, especially since the Continuum Crew survey found that its empty-nester respondents reported an “unprecedented” number of adult children were moving back home, thanks to the recession. If kids can swallow their pride and move back in with Mom and Dad, they can’t get too picky about sharing a social network.