Navigating online misinformation: Understanding older adults’ information-seeking behavior in health crises

Older adults face unique challenges in navigating online misinformation, particularly when seeking credible information in digital environments during a crisis event such as a global pandemic. Our study surveyed 210 older adults to explore challenges, usage patterns, exposure to misinformation, and the effectiveness of online platforms’ crisis mitigation features. Participants were recruited via an online Qualtrics panel, so our sample reflects older adults who are already digitally engaged. Using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study, we found that external factors, such as social interaction restrictions (58.71%) and business closures (11.94%), affected information access. Contrary to assumptions, 80% did not need new online tools due to pre-existing digital literacy. Many relied on online resources for updates, with high trust in news/government websites and low trust in partisan sites/social media. On average, participants correctly identified less than half of the presented statements, with most mistakes occurring on misinformation. However, their higher discernment score indicates they more accurately recognized true, personally relevant information than false claims. Our findings advance current understanding by quantifying the diversity in digital adaptation and verification strategies among older adults and identify specific gaps for targeted intervention. This work highlights the need for more visible, accessible verification tools and crisis communication strategies tailored to older adults’ distinct needs as their engagement with digital platforms continues to grow across information-seeking contexts. • A comprehensive survey of 210 older adults examined their information-seeking behaviors and exposure to online misinformation. • Findings reveal that older adults, despite facing challenges, demonstrated significant digital literacy and resilience in using trusted online sources for health-related information. • This study is among the first to quantify older adults’ exposure to health misinformation and assess the effectiveness of social media platforms’ misinformation-mitigation features. • Results highlight the need for targeted communication strategies and user-friendly digital tools tailored to older adults to enhance misinformation resilience in health crises.