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Seniors Online Increase
72% Use Web for News
and Events
Feb. 4, 2003 - The number one
activity of senior citizens on the Internet is staying in touch, but
close behind is the search for news and events, according to a recent
SeniorNet report. This follows a recent report by Forrester Research
that found almost half of North Americans 58 and older are using the
Web.
They survey also found 46% of US seniors
(people age 50 and older) have been using the internet for over five
years. Additionally, 41% have been online for between two and five
years, and 76% taught themselves how to use the net.
Amount of Time US Seniors Have Been Online (% of Respondents) -
SeniorNet, Nov. 2002
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<6 mos 1%
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6-11 mos 3%
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12-23 mos 8%
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2-5 yrs 41%
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> 5 yrs 46%
SeniorNet surveyed 2,084 people in the US age 50 and older between
September and November 2002 and determined that 94% of seniors use the
net to communicate with friends and family but the second most popular
activity is to search for news and events.
Online Activities Among US Seniors (% of
respondents)
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Stay in touch with friends and relatives 94%
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Stay current with
news and events 72%
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Research health information 70%
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Make purchases online 52%
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Research other topics 51%
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Research products/services to purchase
offline 49%
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Research or check stocks and investments 38%
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Play games 35%
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Genealogy research 27%
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Access discussions 17%
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Access chat rooms 13%
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Perform investment transaction 13%
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Buy or sell on eBay 12%
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Other 15%
Source: SeniorNet, November 2002
Most of the SeniorNet survey respondents were not in their fifties,
but rather 22% were between the ages of 65 and 69, 20% were between
the ages of 70 and 74 and 18% were between the ages of 60 and 64.
Contrary to the popular belief that older internet users were taught
how to use the net by their children or grandchildren, SeniorNet finds
that 76% say they taught themselves. Another 37% say they took a class
to learn and just 30% say they got help from a relative.
Forrester Research, in a recent
study, estimates that 45% of seniors in North America, age 58 and
older, are online.
eMarketer's reports these 2001 estimates on the number of seniors
online:
US Seniors (65+) Online (% of population)
Census Bureau 9/01 12.8%
Pew Internet & American Life Project 9/01 15%
Scarborough Research 2001 30%
Source: eMarketer & others
More recently, Forrester Research estimates that 45% of seniors in
North America, age 58 and older, are online.
Tech Profile of Seniors and Boomers in North America
| |
Boomers (age 48-57) |
Seniors (age 58+) |
| HH Income |
$60,843 |
$43,687 |
| College degree |
36% |
24% |
| Have computer |
70% |
55% |
| Have mobile phone |
56% |
41% |
| Have PDA |
7% |
2% |
| Are online |
64% |
45% |
| At-home broadband access |
17% |
12% |
Source: eMarketer.com, Jan. 2003, Forrester Research, Dec 2002, and
Center for Media Research, Feb. 4, 2003
You can find out
more here.
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