Recent Pew Research Center surveys indicate that 67% of American seniors use the internet. There’s been a sharp rise in the number of older Americans using the internet, proving that it has a great impact on the entire population. Clearly, the internet has changed a number of everyday activities, including the way we communicate, find information, and manage our finances, and by the looks of it, seniors are not that different from youngsters in this sense.
Seniors’ Presence in the Online World
In the last 15 years, there’s been a great increase in internet use among seniors, which we’ve also seen across the entire population. Over 60% of Americans aged 65 or older use the internet. The percentage of older adults with high-speed internet at home is a bit lower, as about half of them report subscribing to home broadband services. According to MedAlertHelp, who brought you the infographic below, the majority of seniors use the internet to access information on personal interests.
Smartphone Use
Although a third of older Americans don’t use the internet, and almost half of them don’t have home broadband, this segment of the population has never been more digitally connected. Younger, well-educated seniors with higher incomes have incorporated technology into their daily lives much like people half their age. It’s interesting that four in ten seniors possess a smartphone and even 17% of people aged 80 or older use this type of mobile device.
Senior Use of Tablets vs. E-readers
Almost a third of senior adults own tablets, in comparison to about 20% of older people owning e-readers. The use of tablets across this demographic has risen since 2013, while the adoption of e-readers shows a trend of stagnation. The tendency for people to prefer tablets over e-readers has been noticed in the broader population as well.
The Challenges of Using Digital Technology
More and more daily activities can be done online, which drastically transformed our reality. This change happened pretty quickly, and a number of people didn’t have time to adapt. That’s why technology poses numerous challenges to senior Americans. Most of them aren’t confident when using digital devices. Usually, they feel insecure about their digital skills and need help learning how to use new devices. On the other hand, some seniors face a different type of challenge. Their health problems or disabilities prevent them from adopting digital technologies.
A Positive Attitude Toward Technology
More than half of older adults think technology has had a positive impact on society. Only a small portion (4%) has the opposite opinion, believing that humanity has regressed due to digital technology. At the same time, we must note that a great majority of older Americans (more than 90%) feel it’s vital to have internet access at home. When it comes to the internet, all age groups are on the same page.
To see the full scope of seniors’ interactions with the internet and other technology, take a look at the following infographic, which explores the topic in great detail.
Irwin Fletcher
I'm an LA journalist who really lives for his profession. I have also published work as Jane Doe in various mags and newspapers across the globe. I normally write articles that can cause trouble but now I write for FTN because Nerds are never angry, so I feel safe.
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