Silver Surfers: Internet Usage Among Older Generations [Infographic]

Dave Sawers http://www.accredited-online-college.org 2m 553 #silversurfers

The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.

Silver Surfers: The Internet for Our Grandparents i.e. Baby Boomers

There is a highly underrated audience that most marketing experts and advertisers fail to even recognize. It is true that for a long time, older generations were believed to be “out of date”, unwilling to learn, and brushed off new technology, believing it was just a passing phase of technology, but there are many in the older generations who did learn how to use the Internet, even learned all the tricks of the trade, becoming experts in SEO, advertising, web design, etc., and love the Internet for all that it can do for them.

While there are still many in the older generation who have no interest in learning how to use the Internet, there are many more who are suddenly becoming interested in the inescapable presence of the Internet. From social media networks mentioned on the news, to having to fill out important documentation online, older generations are realizing that the Internet is inevitable, and learning it is probably the best thing they could do to keep in touch with their family, friends, and everyday events.

Older generations may not be using the Internet as much as younger generations, but they are still an audience that is using social media, shopping, using email, and even joining websites that allow them to find dates, companionship, and groups of like-minded individuals they can meet up with for socialization.

This infographic takes a look at the Silver Surfer generation.

Infographic submission by Dave Sawers, article summary by Matthew Gates

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Silver Surfers: Internet Usage Among Older Generations

The Internet isn’t just for tweens and young socialites. In fact, a large population of Internet users are 50 and older, utilizing the Web for social media, shopping and even education. Let’s take a look at why the stereotype of the not-so-tech-savvy Baby Boomer is more than faulty.

Stats and Facts

Almost 1 in 5
Percentage of Twitter users over 50
53%
Percentage of Americans 65+ who use the Internet
Of that 53%, 70% use it on a typical day.
27 hours per week
Average amount of time Baby Boomers 47-65 spent on the Internet in 2012
48%
Percentage of seniors (65+) who own a desktop computer
63%
Percentage of adults 50-64 who own a desktop computer
Senior Internet use (2000-2012)
The number of adults 50+ who use the Internet has grown significantly in the past 12 years.

A Closer Look: Social Media

Though the average age of the social media user is fairly young, a large percentage of social media profiles belong to adults 55 and over.
27.4 million
Adults 55+ who engage in social networking to communicate
1 in 3
Online seniors who use social media
This is a big difference from 2009, where only 13% of online seniors were using social media.
49%
Percentage of online seniors who have a Facebook account
18%
Percentage of Twitter users 50 and older

A Closer Look: Shopping

Maybe it’s because they have the most money of any age group, or maybe it’s because they like the convenience; whatever the reason, adults 50 and older constitute a majority of the online consumer population.
59%
Percentage of online seniors who have made an online purchase in the past three months
$7 billion
Average annual amount spent online by adults aged 50+
Adults 50+ account for 80% of all online luxury travel spending.

Source: http://www.accredited-online-college.org/internet-usage/

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