16/06/2017
Record numbers of older people got to grips with smartphones and tablets and moved into social media between 2015 and 2016, reveals ‘Adults’ media use and attitudes’, the annual report in which Ofcom sets out how people ‘use, understand and feel about the media and the communications they rely upon each day’.
Key figures showing how older people are increasingly embracing communications technology include
- 39% of baby boomers – people aged 65 to 74 – used a smartphone in 2016 (11% more than in 2015)
- 27% of over 75s used tablets (15%), while 15% used smartphones (8%)
- 48% of baby-boomer internet users established a social profile, while the proportion of over-75s with a profile increased from 19% to 41%
- 87% of over-65s who went online opted for a Facebook account
- 44% of over 75s go online – however, 86% of those who don’t have no plans to do so
Despite unprecedented numbers of them opting to get connected, the current generation of senior citizens still spend less than half the time online that the younger generation does – 15 hours per week compared with 32 hours. They are also more likely to lack confidence online, with 20% describing themselves as ‘‘not confident’, compared with the 7% average of all those who go online.