Seniors struggling worse than teens with screens, AI and algorithms

There’s a lot of worry, understandably, about young people’s screen time and the addictive nature of social media on younger people, but older people are also at risk — often even more so.“It’s very concerning.” Dr.Stacey Wood, clinical neuropsychologist and professor at Scripps College, told The Post.

“Older people are maybe less aware of the algorithm’s power, like how they work… It’s really hard [for them] to discern what’s credible and what’s not.”Nine in ten Americans over 50 are now on social media, according to the AARP, with 72% on Facebook, 34% Instagram, and 18% on TikTok.Even seniors over 65 are now estimated to spend 104 minutes a day on social media, according to Statista.Older people are also taking up AI en masse.

Pew data from February found that a full 23% of senior citizens use chatbots, and 42% of those aged 50 to 64 do the same.Of course keeping up with tech is a good thing and can help keep older people connected, but it’s a slippery slope.While the effects of social media on young minds are well studied, researchers are beginning to turn their attention to older people — and what they’re finding is worrying.A third of boomers say that they prefer short-form content to long-form video and shows, according to a 2025 consumer insights survey, not far behind 4 in 10 millennials.

The frictionless consumption of short-form content concerns Wood, who suspects it could be causing a harmful feedback loop among older people.She emphasized that there isn’t enough research yet in the space but theorized that low-effort, easy to consume social media usage could be displacing enriching activities, like reading, that keeps minds agile.“It’s a bad habit of mind,” Wood said.Natalie Ebner, a University of Florida professor and psychologist who studies brain aging, noted that quick-hit content might be especially potent for older people whose reward centers of the brain are generally less active and don’t produce as mu...