It’s official: most American adults age 65 or older are now online. According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project those age 65 and older are online more now than ever before:
- 53% use the internet or email (April 2012)
- 34% use social networking & 18% do so on a typical day (February 2012)
So What?
While usage rates are higher among the younger the population, the percentage of those in older age cohorts using the internet has continued to increase. Another Pew statistic puts the senior usage figure in perspective, “Overall, 82% of all American adults ages 18 and older say they use the internet or email, at least occasionally, and 67% do so on a typical day.”
- What percentage of your friends and family who are aged 65 or older go online? how often?
- What is your congregation doing to educate those who have recently started using the internet? those who are not yet online?
- What resources would you recommend to a new internet user in this age group who would like to learn more?