According to the Pew Research Center, America’s seniors have historically been late adopters to the world of technology compared to their younger compatriots, but their movement into digital life continues to deepen. This study includes a unique exploration not only of technology use between Americans ages 65 or older and the rest of the population, but within the senior population as well.
Two different groups of older Americans emerge, says the report. The first group, (younger, more highly educated, or more affluent seniors) has relatively substantial technology assets, and also has a positive view toward the benefits of online platforms. The other (older and less affluent, often with significant challenges with health or disability) is largely disconnected from the world of digital tools and services, both physically and psychologically.
As the Internet plays an increasingly central role in connecting Americans of all ages to news and information, government services, health resources, and opportunities for social support, these divisions are noteworthy, particularly for the many organizations and individual caregivers who serve the older adult population.
In April 2012 the Pew Research Center found that more than half of older adults (ages 65 or older) were internet users. Today, 59% of seniors report they go online, a six-percentage point increase in the course of a year. And 47% say they have a high-speed broadband connection at home. In addition, 77% of older adults have a cell phone, up from 69% in April 2012.
Despite these gains, seniors continue to lag behind younger Americans when it comes to tech adoption; 41% do not use the internet at all, 53% do not have broadband access at home, and 23% do not use cell phones.
Seniors Lag In Tech Adoption | ||
| Tech Adoption (% of Respondents) | |
Technology | All adults | 65+ |
Cell phone | 91% | 77% |
Internet | 86 | 59 |
Broadband | 70 | 47 |
Source: Pew Research Center, April 2014 |
In addition, affluent and well-educated seniors adopt the Internet and broadband at substantially higher rates than those with lower levels of income and educational attainment:
Internet And Broadband Use (% Within Each Age Group) | ||
Age | Go online | Broadband at Home |
65-69 | 74% | 65% |
70-74 | 68 | 55 |
75-79 | 47 | 34 |
80+ | 37 | 21 |
Source: Pew Research Center, April 2014 |
Older adults who do not currently use the internet because of a “physical or health condition” are divided on the question of whether that lack of access hurts them or not:
A significant majority of older adults say they need assistance when it comes to using new digital devices:
Among older adults who use the internet, 71% go online every day or almost every day, and an additional 11% go online three to five times per week. 79% of older adults who use the internet agree with the statement that “people without internet access are at a real disadvantage because of all the information they might be missing,” while 94% agree with the statement that “the internet makes it much easier to find information today than in the past.”
Daily Online Use by Age (% of Users by Age Group) | ||||
| 18-29 | 30-49 | 50-64 | 65+ |
Net | 94% | 92% | 87% | 82% |
3-5 times per week | 6 | 8 | 88 | 11 |
Every day or almost every day | 88 | 84 | 79 | 71 |
Source: Pew Research Center, April 2014 |
Device ownership among older adults differs notably from the population as a whole in several specific ways:
To review the complete report, please visit Pew Research here.