Social media, social capital, and seniors: The impact of Facebook on bonding and bridging social capital of individuals over 65

Online social networks may be important avenues for building and maintaining social capital as adult’s age. However, few studies have explicitly examined the role online communities play in the lives of seniors. In this exploratory study, U.S. seniors were interviewed to assess the impact of Facebook on social capital. Interpretive thematic analysis reveals Facebook facilitates connections to loved ones and may indirectly facilitate bonding social capital. Awareness generated via Facebook often lead to the sharing and receipt of emotional support via other channels. As such, Facebook acted as a catalyst for increasing social capital. The implication of “awareness” as a new dimension of social capital theory is discussed. Additionally, Facebook was found to have potential negative impacts on seniors’ current relationships due to open access to personal information. Finally, common concerns related to privacy, comfort with technology, and inappropriate content were revealed.