Trusted but Not Fully Protected: How Older Adults Navigate Health Information Online
When a health crisis happens, many people turn to the internet for answers. This study looked at how older adults use online information during those stressful moments, using the COVID-19 pandemic as a real-world example. We surveyed 210 adults aged 60 and older in Canada to understand where they looked for information, how they judged whether it was true, and whether they noticed the warning tools that social media platforms created to reduce misinformation.
The study challenges the idea that older adults are simply confused by technology. Most participants were already comfortable using online tools and did not need to learn new ones during the pandemic. They were selective about where they got information, and most preferred trusted sources such as government and news websites over social media or partisan websites. This shows that many older adults are active, thoughtful users of online information rather than passive recipients.
At the same time, the findings also revealed important gaps. Participants were generally better at recognizing true information than confidently labeling false information as false. Many chose “inconclusive” when they were unsure, which suggests caution rather than carelessness. Even so, many still struggled with misinformation, especially more misleading or conspiracy-style claims. When they came across suspicious information, many ignored it rather than reporting it or correcting it. Awareness of platform tools such as warning labels and fact-checking features was also low.
These results matter because older adults are increasingly online, and health misinformation can directly affect their well-being. The study suggests that online platforms, public health organizations, and designers should create clearer, easier-to-use tools that help older adults verify information quickly, especially during emergencies. Rather than assuming older adults need only basic digital training, we should design better supports that match their real habits: trusting familiar sources, being cautious when unsure, and wanting reliable information without extra complexity.
Ghenai, A., Wang, X., & Moffatt, K. (2026). Navigating online misinformation: Understanding older adults’ information-seeking behavior in health crises (external link, opens in new window) . Computers in Human Behavior Reports, Volume 22, 101033.