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The Growing Attraction Of Seniors To The Internet

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Although seniors have lower rates of technology adoption compared to the younger generation, the spreading awareness about the internet and its benefits have improved the scene immensely.

The infographic below crafted by the MedAlertHelp team shows that just five years ago, half as many people owned smartphones as today. In 2013, only 18% of seniors owned a smartphone whereas 42% of them owned one in 2017.

Reports suggest that seniors with higher education and high annual household income levels have seen significant growth within the past years in terms of smartphone and internet usage.

More precisely, 81% of the elderly with an annual household income of $70,000 and above are prone towards owning a smartphone, while only 27% of those with income of $30,000 or less own the same device.

According to the PEW Research Centre, only 14% of those over 65 were using the internet in 2000, while the figure has risen to 67% this year. The number of senior households that pay for the broadband services has also increased over the past few years from 47% in 2013 to 51% in 2017.

In fact, there is a rise in the usage of tablets over e-readers since 2013. Around 32% of the seniors owned a tablet while 19% owned an e-reader in 2013. Today, there are more than 47% of them who use tablets while there is no change in the usage of e-readers.

Growing Online Addiction Among Elderly

There may be various reasons why elders love the internet. While some of them use the internet for healthcare purposes, others want to explore the world through online videos. Many use it to stay in touch with their children, grandchildren, or other family members via social networks, email, or video calls.

Around 75% of seniors use the internet to communicate with family and friends, and 58% use it to visit online shopping or service related websites. The 53% go online seeking medical advice or advice for health care issues.

Further, 50% of the same age group are reported going online to keep up with the news happening around the community. Around 17% of the seniors use the internet for entertainment purposes such as watching online movies, TV shows, or other videos.

Aren’t these figures interesting?

To have a more in-depth look at the internet penetration in the seniors’ community, in particular, check out the infographic below!