Amount of Time US Seniors Have Been Online (% of Respondents)
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.
Online Activities Among US Seniors (% of respondents)
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.
eMarketer's report compares 2001 estimates on the number of seniors online:
US Seniors (65+) Online (% of population)
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% |
You can find out more here.