As AI-generated content proliferates online, it seems that older users, particularly those in Generation X and above, are falling for these visuals en masse on social media. This is not just evidenced by TikTok videos and a cursory glance at your mom’s Facebook activity, but there’s data behind it.
Facebook’s algorithm seems to be pushing wacky AI images on users’ feeds to sell products and amass followings. Take a look at the comment section of any of these AI-generated photos and you’ll find them filled with older users commenting that they’re “beautiful” or “amazing,” often adorning these posts with heart and prayer emojis.
Why do older adults not only fall for these pages but seem to enjoy them? Experts suggest that a lack of experience and familiarity with AI could help explain the comprehension gap between younger and older audiences. For instance, in an August 2023 AARP and NORC survey of nearly 1,300 US adults aged 50 and older, only 17 percent of participants said they have read or heard “a lot” about AI.
Cracking this code is particularly important because tech companies like Google tend to overlook older users during internal testing. While cognitive decline might seem like a reasonable explanation for this machine-powered mismatch, early research suggests that a lack of experience and familiarity with AI could help explain the comprehension gap between younger and older audiences.
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