South Asian elders built a digital lifeline on WhatsApp and YouTube

By Ahmed Sharma

(This story is made possible with the support of AARP) 

For many senior citizens, especially from immigrant backgrounds, their phones have become daily lifelines. My 70-year-old mother, for example, almost always has her phone lit up, either responding to WhatsApp messages or with YouTube videos playing in the background. The latter usually involves dramas she’s followed for years and clips of international news.

For many seniors in the U.S., these platforms have quietly become more than apps; they’ve become how older immigrants stay connected, consume information, and navigate aging in a country that often feels linguistically and culturally distant.

As South Asian Americans age, especially those who immigrated later in life, these digital platforms may increasingly function as informal community centers — offering connection, cultural continuity, and access to information. But researchers warn that reliance on algorithm-driven platforms also raises questions about digital literacy, misinformation, and how seniors’ worldviews are shaped online, for better and for worse.

My mother likes WhatsApp, personally, because it makes staying in touch with family back home feel easy and natural. International calls using a traditional phone line can be expensive, but WhatsApp allows her to make voice calls for free over Wi-Fi. She knows how to send texts, but she prefers phone calls or voice notes, arguably because they can recreate something closer to sitting together in a living room, even across continents.

YouTube fills a different role; a recent poll from Pew Research found YouTube to be the most used platform across all ages, but especially among senior citizens, compared to other social media apps. My mother tells me she prefers YouTube over Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok because, as she put it, “it shows me only what I like.” Where Facebook feels cluttered with posts she has little interest in, YouTube’s algorithm reliably delivers what she’s already searching for: Pakistani dramas, religious content, and world news — all without a subscription fee.

That preference mirrors what researchers have found about older adults’ technology use. Studies published in The Gerontologist and Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences show seniors are more likely to adopt platforms that feel intuitive, personalized, and low-cost, particularly when language barriers or unfamiliar media environments make mainstream outlets feel inaccessible. For immigrant seniors, digital platforms don’t just entertain — they serve as gateways to identity, belonging, and information.

While much of the existing research examines seniors as a broad population, experts note that immigrant elders — including South Asian seniors — often experience digital platforms differently. Higher rates of limited English proficiency, reliance on ethnic media, and strong transnational family ties mean platforms like WhatsApp and YouTube serve not just as social tools, but as primary sources of communication, news, and cultural connection. Research from the Pew Research Center shows YouTube is the most widely used platform among older adults, while studies compiled by the National Institutes of Health highlight how seniors increasingly rely on digital platforms for health and social information.

Community-based organizations working directly with South Asian seniors, such as Saahas for Cause, have also emphasized how language access, cultural familiarity, and digital literacy shape how aging South Asians engage with technology — often compressing communication, news consumption, and social connection into a single digital ecosystem.

Across Pakistani and Indian American communities, WhatsApp has become something akin to a digital community center. Family groups connect multiple generations across continents. Mosque, temple, and neighborhood chats circulate announcements, condolences, prayer requests, and reminders. Friends from decades ago — sometimes from entirely different chapters of life — reconnect in group threads that never really go quiet.

Research on aging and social connection consistently shows that digital communication tools can reduce loneliness and social isolation among older adults, especially those who may no longer work, drive, or socialize as frequently. A 2021 study published in BMC Geriatrics found that structured social connection interventions significantly improved seniors’ emotional well-being — a finding that helps explain why constant digital contact can feel so grounding.

YouTube, meanwhile, often replaces cable television, newspapers, and even in-person gatherings. With a few taps, seniors can access religious sermons, cooking tutorials, nostalgia-driven music, and breaking news from abroad — often in their first language. My mother enjoys being able to follow world events and watch her favorite dramas without paying for a subscription. For seniors on fixed incomes, that free access matters.

What stands out in conversations with South Asian elders, like my mother, is how intuitively they understand personalization — even if they don’t use words like “algorithm.” My mother’s explanation for preferring YouTube over Facebook was simple: YouTube learns her tastes and sticks to them.

Scholars studying older adults’ digital behavior have noted similar patterns. Research published in The Gerontologist and on PubMed Central emphasizes that seniors often prefer platforms that feel predictable and affirming, particularly when navigating unfamiliar digital spaces. Personalization reduces cognitive overload and makes the internet feel less chaotic.

But that same personalization comes with trade-offs. Researchers warn that algorithm-driven platforms can narrow the range of information users are exposed to, especially when content is filtered through language, cultural familiarity, and trust. Studies on misinformation exposure among older adults — including research indexed by the National Institutes of Health — show seniors encounter misleading or false information more frequently than younger users, not necessarily because of age alone, but because of trust dynamics and limited digital literacy support.

Health information is one area where this tension becomes especially clear. Research shows older adults increasingly turn to online platforms for medical guidance, particularly when culturally competent healthcare is limited or difficult to access. YouTube videos and WhatsApp forwards frequently circulate home remedies, wellness advice, and medical explanations framed in familiar cultural terms. While this accessibility can be empowering, researchers caution it can also blur the line between credible guidance and misinformation.

Several studies emphasize that digital literacy among older adults isn’t just about knowing how to use technology — it’s about being able to evaluate information critically. Seniors may feel confident navigating apps while still struggling to assess credibility, sponsorships, or intent.

Still, it would be inaccurate — and unfair — to frame South Asian seniors as passive or naïve users. Many are selective, intentional, and skeptical. Trust is often earned through language, tone, and cultural alignment rather than platform branding.

Research on digital literacy often emphasizes the importance of “warm experts” — trusted family members or friends who assist older adults in navigating technology informally. In many South Asian households, adult children and grandchildren play that role, answering questions, flagging suspicious content, and offering gentle guidance. That dynamic can be delicate. Questioning a forwarded video can feel like challenging someone’s judgment or authority. But for many families, it has become part of everyday conversation.

My own experience reflects that balance. My mother’s digital habits aren’t driven by blind trust or political obsession. They’re driven by comfort, familiarity, and connection. That nuance is often missing from broader conversations about seniors and technology.

For South Asian elders, WhatsApp and YouTube are not simply tools — they’re extensions of identity. Aging in America can be isolating, particularly for immigrants who have spent much of their lives elsewhere. Digital platforms enable seniors to maintain linguistic fluency, cultural traditions, and emotional connections that might otherwise fade. Watching a familiar drama or listening to a religious lecture in one’s native language can be grounding in ways that are difficult to quantify but deeply felt.

The story of South Asian seniors online isn’t one of simple benefit or harm. It’s layered, human, and evolving. WhatsApp keeps families connected across oceans. YouTube offers comfort, entertainment, and information without cost. Together, they help many seniors feel less alone in a country that can often feel overwhelming.

As these platforms become central to daily life, researchers argue the need for culturally responsive digital literacy — rooted in respect rather than fear — has never been clearer. Aging in the digital age doesn’t have to mean choosing between connection and caution. For many South Asian families, it just means learning how to hold both at once.