According to Forbes, there’s a massive demographic shift happening in social media that most tech companies are completely missing. About 30 million Americans aged 62 and older actively use social media platforms, with 45% of those 65+ and 73% of those 50-64 being active online. Even more surprising, roughly 15-20% of these older users – that’s 9-12 million people – are creating original content rather than just consuming it. These “granfluencers” are building significant followings with their authentic voices and lived experience. Globally, the opportunity is even bigger with 1.2 billion people over 62 and about 20-30% of them using social media. Despite these numbers, tech marketers continue focusing almost exclusively on Gen Z and millennials.
The Reality Check
Here‘s the thing – I’m genuinely surprised by these numbers. We’ve been conditioned to think of social media as a young person’s game, but these statistics suggest something fundamentally different is happening. When you think about it, boomers have more free time, often more disposable income, and decades of life experience to share. They’re not trying to be TikTok dancers – they’re building communities around shared interests, life wisdom, and genuine connection.
But is the tech industry prepared for this? Looking at most social media apps and creative tools, the answer seems to be a resounding no. The interfaces, the marketing, the entire user experience screams “designed for digital natives.” Can you imagine your grandmother trying to navigate some of these overly complex creation tools? There’s a massive accessibility gap that nobody’s addressing.
Why This Matters
Basically, we’re talking about a huge untapped market. These older creators represent what might be the most engaged, loyal audience on social media. They’re not just scrolling mindlessly – they’re actively participating. And they’re doing it without the pressure of becoming “influencers” in the traditional sense. Their content often feels more authentic because, frankly, they have nothing to prove.
The top elderly influencers aren’t just posting generic content either. They’re building real communities around specific interests – cooking, gardening, history, even tech tutorials from people who actually remember life before the internet. There’s a depth there that’s often missing from younger creator content.
The Missed Opportunity
So why aren’t tech companies jumping on this? It feels like ageism in plain sight. Marketers are so obsessed with capturing the “youth market” that they’re ignoring a demographic with actual spending power and time to engage. Think about it – tools like Canva or AI platforms could absolutely dominate this space with some simple adaptations.
Imagine dedicated tutorials showing boomers how to use these tools to connect with grandchildren. Or simplified interfaces that don’t assume everyone grew up with smartphones. The senior influencer movement is proving there’s demand – now where’s the supply?
I’m skeptical though. Tech moves fast, and older users often get left behind. But with baby boomers representing such a massive portion of the population, ignoring them seems like business malpractice. The companies that figure this out first will have a huge advantage. After all, these granfluencers are already building audiences – someone just needs to give them the right tools.
