The data paint a clear picture: loneliness is far from rare. Feelings of isolation, being left out, and lacking companionship show up often. About four in 10 older adults never feel this way, but for most, it’s part of life. Three in 10 rarely feel it, a quarter experience it some of the time, and nearly one in 10 say it’s constant.

The poll found that older adults are embracing online hobbies, but when it comes to other types of online social engagement, participation drops sharply. Six in 10 older adults have tried an online hobby this year, and 45 percent do so at least monthly. About half have attended religious services online, including 26 percent who attended at least once a month. But when it comes to volunteering or joining local groups online, participation plummets. Most have never done it, and only 15 percent log in regularly for these.

About nine in 10 (86 percent) older adults use at least one social media platform. Women are more likely to log in than men, and those ages 50 to 69 are more likely to connect compared to those 70 and older.

Facebook leads the pack, with 74 percent using it at least occasionally. Instagram comes in second, attracting 39 percent of older adults. Meanwhile, about one in four use other platforms such as TikTok and WhatsApp.

For older adults on Facebook, connection remains central, but engagement goes beyond that. Nearly nine in 10 say their primary reason for using the platform is to keep up with friends’ lives and three-quarters share updates about their lives. An additional three-quarters seek out interesting articles, while over half turn to Facebook for entertainment, to learn or stay informed about something they heard about from others, or to keep up with trending topics making it a multifaceted experience.

Instagram tells a different story as connection takes a back seat. Fewer users cite it as a main reason for logging in. Instead, Instagram leans into discovery and delight: four in 10 visit it for entertainment or to see what’s trending, highlighting its role as a platform for inspiration rather than personal updates.

When older adults log on to social media, it’s usually to stay connected with the people who matter most. Two-thirds of older adults use social media at least once a month to stay in touch with friends, about half check in with their children, and four in 10 reach out to siblings.

Connecting online can provide moments of engagement, whether through virtual worship services, volunteering, joining online community groups, or exploring hobbies, but it doesn’t fully address feelings of loneliness among older adults. When demographic factors are considered, those who participate in these online activities are just as likely to experience loneliness at least occasionally as those who don’t. In short, while online spaces can offer interaction and enrichment, they aren’t a substitute for deeper, more meaningful connections.

However, communication with one’s children through social media tells a different story.

Older adults who connect with their children at least once a week through social media are more likely to report never having experienced loneliness-related emotions compared to those who communicate less frequently (42 percent vs 32 percent). In contrast, when demographic factors are controlled, frequent social media connections with friends or siblings, or general social media use, does not significantly impact experiences of loneliness.

Loneliness among older adults is complex, and this research reminds us that while online engagement can encourage connection, it’s not the whole solution. Online hobbies, virtual services, and online community activities provide opportunities for interaction, but they don’t always erase feelings of loneliness. What truly makes a difference is meaningful connection. Regular communication with children through social media stands out as a buffer against loneliness, showing that one of technology’s strengths is in nurturing real relationships.

So go ahead and enjoy those online moments; they matter. But also step away from the screen sometimes to create deeper, face-to-face connections that technology can’t replace.

These findings come from online and telephone (landline and mobile) interviews conducted with 1,001 U.S. adults on the Foresight 50+ Omnibus Survey from September 18-23, 2025. The margin of sampling error was +/- 4.2 percentage points.

This research is part of a series of Foresight 50+ Omnibus Surveys focused on amplifying the voices of people age 50 and over. Now more than ever, policymakers and others need this type of scientifically rigorous, readily available data in real time to help them improve policies and programs for an aging population. The Foresight 50+ FastTrack series—a set of periodic insights using the panel—will meet this need by regularly providing key findings and insights, on an array of topics, which might otherwise be unavailable to the public. The series will also showcase ways in which your organization can use the panel to answer your questions about the highly influential 50+ demographic. 

The large Foresight 50+ by AARP and NORC panel can oversample a variety of target groups, such as Medicare beneficiaries, caregivers, those with various health conditions or functional limitations, veterans, frequent travelers, and others. Combined with our affordable TrueNorth® methodology, Foresight 50+ by AARP and NORC can incorporate data from lower-quality sample sources to gain insight into even smaller subpopulations, such as people with food allergies, socially isolated or homebound individuals, and high-net-worth individuals.

For more information on our other surveys, or to learn how we can customize a survey of this demographic to your needs, visit Foresight 50+ or email Foresight50-bd@norc.org. To learn more about how NORC delivers objective, nonpartisan insights and analysis that decision-makers trust across other issue areas and demographics, continue to explore NORC.org.