Seniors account for about 14% of the US population, and according to recent Pew Research Center surveys, 67% of them use the internet. That's important to note, particularly for marketers looking to reach this demographic - in the below infographic, the team from medalertHelp have put together a range of insights into internet use by older generations.
Here are some of the key notes:
- Although adults aged 65+ are now generally more digitally connected, how they adopt technology varies greatly depending on their age, household income, and level of education. Those with an annual household income over $75,000 are more likely to have broadband at home or own a smartphone than seniors whose household earns less than $30,000. Older people with a higher education also adopt technology more readily than seniors without college degrees.
- Seniors use the internet for a wide range of purposes, from shopping to entertainment. However, almost 80% of them are looking for information on topics of interest, such as news, weather, or politics.
- The number of seniors using smartphones has doubled since 2013 - today, more than 40% of them possess this type of mobile device.
In addition, as social media has grown in importance, older Americans have also increasingly started to use the medium to connect with friends and family. However, they remain in the minority, with only around one-third of seniors using social apps. Nevertheless, they are the fastest-growing age demographic on sites like Facebook and Twitter.
For more insights into how older users are utilizing the internet and other technologies, take a look at the below infographic.
