Social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, and its usage has grown exponentially over the years. According to a report by Statistics Canada, in 2018, social media was regularly used by about 9 in 10 Canadians aged 15 to 34, 8 in 10 of those aged 35 to 49, and 6 in 10 of those aged 50 to 64 . Similarly, a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2021 found that 84% of adults aged 18 to 29 and 81% of those aged 30 to 49 use social media sites . The gap between younger and older age groups has significantly narrowed, with nearly 65% of 50- to 64-year-olds also using social media .
The intensity of social media use varies across different age groups. Younger individuals tend to use social media more frequently and for longer durations than their older counterparts. This is measured in terms of the number of social media accounts used, the number and types of social media activities undertaken, and the intensity of smartphone use . As a result, younger individuals are more likely to experience negative outcomes due to social media use. For instance, a study by Statistics Canada found that compared with social media users in older age groups, larger shares of users in younger age groups reported experiencing negative outcomes such as lost sleep, trouble concentrating on tasks or activities, feeling anxious or depressed, feeling envious of the lives of others, and feeling frustrated or angry . Reports of lost sleep were especially prevalent among individuals aged 15 to 19, and trouble concentrating was especially prevalent among social media users aged 15 to 24. Reports of feeling anxious or depressed or of feeling envious of others were more prevalent among youth, broadly defined in this study as individuals aged 15 to 34 .
In terms of social media preferences, different age groups tend to use different platforms. For instance, Facebook is more popular among older age groups, while Instagram and Snapchat are more popular among younger age groups . A report by Walden University found that 88% of 18- to 29-year-olds use social media, compared to 80% of 30- to 49-year-olds and 65% of 50- to 64-year-olds . The same report found that Facebook is the most popular social media platform among all age groups, followed by YouTube and Instagram . However, the popularity of different platforms varies across different age groups. For instance, TikTok is more popular among younger age groups, while LinkedIn is more popular among older age groups .
In conclusion, social media usage has become ubiquitous across different age groups. While younger individuals tend to use social media more frequently and for longer durations than their older counterparts, the gap between younger and older age groups has significantly narrowed. Different age groups tend to use different social media platforms, with Facebook being the most popular platform among all age groups. However, the popularity of different platforms varies across different age groups. .