Feature

Friday, November 11, 2011

SeniorNet Announces Results of Online Survey

   Results Indicate Growing E-Commerce Interest From Internet-savvy Seniors

    SAN FRANCISCO, May 18  -- SeniorNet, the leading nonprofit
organization dedicated to giving older Americans computer access and training,
today announced the results of its online survey measuring computer and
Internet trends of 1,000 adults over age 50. Most of the respondents (45%)
were ages 60-65.
    The survey showed that while keeping in touch with family and friends
remains seniors' top reason for using the Internet at 93 percent, making
electronic purchases is becoming an increasingly popular use. In fact, 45
percent of those surveyed report online-purchasing as their third most common
activity.
    "The survey not only proves again that older adults are more Internet
savvy than many people think, it also suggests that older-age Internet users
are now using the net to make more frequent and larger electronic purchases,"
says Ann Wrixon, CEO and President of SeniorNet. "Now more than ever, seniors
are tapping into the convenience of the Internet to research stocks and
investments and buy everything from online drugstore items to travel
packages."
    Some of what seniors buy online includes books, purchased by 45 percent of
respondents, and computer software and hardware, purchased by 43 percent of
the respondents.  The SeniorNet survey also shows that Internet users over age
50 are spending more time and money on larger ecommerce items including plane
tickets, rental car agreements, lodging reservations and more.
    Additional key findings from SeniorNet's online survey include:

    -- Eighty-nine percent of the respondents access the Internet through
       their own computer, followed by just over six percent gaining access
       through Internet devices such as WebTV
    -- Seventy percent spend an average of up to 20 hours a week on the
       Internet, and 32 percent report a weekly average of 20 hours or more
    -- Eighty-three percent taught themselves how to use the Internet, with
       15 percent learning in the workplace

    Complete online survey results can be found by visiting SeniorNet's
website at http://www.seniornet.org.

    About Senior Net
    SeniorNet is based on the belief that computer literacy not only gives
older adults access to a world of information and people, but also allows them
to share wisdom and knowledge with the rest of the world. Based in San
Francsico, SeniorNet began as a small research project in 1986 and now serves
as a major international nonprofit organization that has taught over 100,000
older adults to use computers and the Internet. With a global membership of
more than 34,500 people, two thriving online communities, a network of over
180 locally-run computer Learning Centers and a variety of educational
publications, SeniorNet offers comfort and community to a population that was
originally neglected in the information revolution. With sponsorship by major
corporations and foundations, private and public donations, and a backbone of
individual members and contributors, SeniorNet continues to grow and offer new
opportunities to those touched by its nonprofit mission.