Older Influencers Are Finding Fans and Earning Money Online

Lillian Droniak is 96 years old and is known as Grandma Droniak on social media. She is from Connecticut. Her grandson began helping her post videos in 2020.

Droniak went viral in June after she claimed her retirement home had threatened to evict her for throwing parties. The retirement home later confirmed the eviction threat. Later, the retirement home reached a settlement that allows Droniak to keep partying, but she may not supply alcoholic drinks.

Droniak has 15 million followers. According to BBC News, she earns enough from social media to cover her nursing home fees of $12,000 (£9,000) a month. Her sponsored content includes partnerships with food and beauty brands. Some of her earnings go towards a college fund for her great-grandchildren.

Viv Truran is an 82-year-old from Cardiff. She started posting on Instagram after losing her husband. She makes two videos a day from her bedroom-turned-studio. Truran owns 22 pairs of glasses and two drawers of scarves.

Age UK paid Viv Truran several thousand pounds for a recent campaign. Naomi Baker, from influencer marketing agency We Are Social, is also part of this story.

Grace Geramita is 85 years old and is known as Nonna Gracie. She moved from Italy to the US when she was 18. She worked multiple jobs to provide for her two daughters. Her grandson Matthew suggested filming her cooking six years ago.

Barbara Costello is a 77-year-old former teacher. She shares videos about cooking, cleaning and homemaking skills under the Brunch with Babs accounts.