Over 55 and Online: When Experience Isn’t Enough to Avoid Misinformation

A new international study reveals that adults over 55 are more likely to share false political content—not because of lack of intelligence or tech literacy, but because of emotional trust in information that aligns with their values.

A recent study by the University of Colorado Boulder has shed light on a quietly growing phenomenon: the spread of political misinformation among adults aged 55 and older. According to the research, this group is the most likely to share false news on social media, particularly when the content supports their political beliefs.

The researchers emphasize that the cause isn’t cognitive decline or digital naivety. “Older adults are not more gullible—they’re more emotionally invested in their political identity,” explains lead researcher Professor Anne Turner. In other words, misinformation spreads not because people can’t tell truth from lies, but because they want to confirm what feels right to them.

The study, which included over 1,200 participants aged 30 to 75, found that partisanship outweighed fact-checking instincts: the stronger the alignment between a post and the reader’s worldview, the higher the likelihood of sharing it—truthful or not.

FIFTIERS™ Reflection

Those over 50 are among the most influential voices online—but also the most trusting. This study reminds us that critical thinking doesn’t retire; it evolves. Media literacy and conscious digital habits are not a generational gap, but a modern form of wisdom. Experience is valuable—but in today’s world, information is power.

Source: University of Colorado Boulder, “Older adults share more political misinformation — here’s why” (November 2025)