A comparative study on the influence of social media on older adults residing at home and in old age home settings in Kolkata

Abstract

Old-age is often characterized by absence of task and meaningful engagement. Over past few decades, it has been noticed that social media usage is no longer limited to the youngsters but senior citizens has also started using social media to remain connected with family and friends. Hence, the present study aims to explore the impact of social media in lives of elderly individuals using a mixed-method approach. The quantitative part involved a comparative study on 100 elderly individuals, 50 residing at homes and 50 residing at old-age homes in Kolkata, on dimensions of Social media use, Social functioning and Quality of Life. Qualitative part of the study focuses on the perception and attitude of elderly people towards social media use. Findings indicate that social media plays a significant role in enhancing social connectivity and reducing loneliness among older adults, thus bringing positive changes.