If you’re over 50 and looking for a new hobby or a way to connect with people on social media, YouTube may be the unexpected platform for you
When you think of social media, many people instantly imagine picture perfect Instagram posts of sandy beaches or twenty-something year-old influencers promoting products on YouTube, but in a new campaign, Legal & General are showing that the newest wave of YouTubers and influencers are in actual fact over 50.
According to research conducted by Google and Ipsos, 82% of over-50s are engaging with video content on YouTube. Upwards of half the population of baby boomers watch online videos, with YouTube being the most popular platform. Moreover, this very same demographic are now spending more time than ever online - around 19 hours a week, versus 16 hours watching television or any other form of entertainment or news.
With retirement and children moving out, plus the growth in technological advances as well as digital and social media, many baby boomers are retiring and finding themselves more financially free and with plenty of time to explore their interests and hobbies.
To boot, many baby boomers are also becoming more tech-savvy, and with a wealth of learning resources at their fingertips - already available in the form of YouTube videos about how to become a YouTuber - plus the fact that much of the equipment and software is now readily accessible at competitive prices, it has never been easier to become a YouTuber.
YouTube has not only become a source of entertainment and inspiration, but it is becoming the go-to platform for over 50s to showcase their talents and share their knowledge and understanding of various subjects. As a result many younger audiences are engaging with this content to learn and develop their own skills and broaden their horizons.
DIY YouTuber Alan Wall, 66, of Dereton33 has around 58,000 subscribers and 43% of his regular viewers are aged between 25 and 44-years-old, which not only proves that the wisdom learnt over years of working in the field can be of value to a wide audience, but also that YouTube can be used as a tool to reach younger audiences and for those trying to build a personal brand for themselves that can be hugely beneficial.
Alan explains: “My daughter was struggling with her bills and it made me realise I could help everybody out, not just her. The knowledge gained from a lifetime spent as a professional plumbing and heating engineer could help all those starting out with their own house to cut those expensive maintenance bills – I could give something back to help everybody.”
The process of creating content not only provides value for others but can also have a therapeutic effect on the creator. 53-year-old YouTuber Joanna Gordon of The 50 Year Old Vlogger, commented: “Starting the channel gave me some focus as well as a fun, creative outlet – being creative always makes me feel better emotionally. Once I got past the ‘big five oh’ and the world didn’t end, it felt like I could take a breath and get on enjoying the next 50 – the channel really helped me get through that period.”
Whilst combating general apathy and boredom, creating a YouTube channel can also help to alleviate loneliness amongst the older generation, as communities form via social media and YouTubers are able to engage and connect with their subscribers as never before. The potential for money-making via ad-sense and paid-for marketing collaborations is also there, especially for those who are able to be consistent and build a loyal audience of subscribers.
Head over to https://www.legalandgeneral.com/life-cover/over-50s/stars-of-the-silver-screen/ and https://www.legalandgeneral.com/life-cover/over-50s/ to read more about YouTube for the over 50s.
