Rise of the Social Seniors revealed 14 June 2017
Older adults take to smartphones and tablets in record numbers
Half of internet users aged 65-74 have a social media profile
But some older internet users lack confidence when online
Record numbers of older people are embracing smart and social technology, with a quarter of over-75s using tablet computers, and half of online baby boomers taking to social media.
The findings are from Ofcom's annual Adults' Media Use and Attitudes report[2], which reveals how people use, understand and feel about the media and communications they rely upon each day.
This year's report shows striking growth in older people's use of technology between 2015 and 2016. Baby boomers aged 65-74 are increasingly connected, with four in ten (39%) using a smartphone, up 11 percentage points in a year.[3]
There has been a sharp rise in over-75s using tablets, from 15% to 27%. And the use of smartphones among this age group has nearly doubled, from 8% to 15%.[4]
Nearly half (48%) of internet users aged 65-74 now have a social media profile. Among over 75s, the proportion with a profile has nearly doubled from 19% to 41%.
Around nine in ten (87%) social seniors aged over 65 opt for a Facebook account, but a smaller proportion use WhatsApp (6%) and Instagram (1%).[5]
But while 44% of over-75s go online, more than half do not, and most of these (86%) have no plans to do so.[6]
Digital behaviourOfcom's research finds that older adults are more connected than ever, but this generation still spend less than half the amount of time online than the younger generation. Over-65s spend 15 hours online each week, compared to 32 hours among 16-24s.
Social seniors aged over 65 also have different experiences online. Seven in ten (72%) over-65s said they have not seen anything to offend or upset them in the last year, compared to 56% of adults generally.[7]
This may reflect older users' more limited use of the online world. Most over-75s (51%) are narrow' internet users, meaning they typically carry out limited online activities - this compares to the average of 28%.
Social savvinessWhile older internet users are increasingly active online, some older people lack online confidence. A fifth (20%) of people over 65 describe themselves as not confident' online, much higher than the average (7%).
One reason could be that many older users are new to the internet. Some 21% of internet users over-75 went online for the first time in the last five years twice the wider average.
For those older internet users lacking confidence, this is particularly pronounced when managing personal data. Almost one in five internet users over 65 say that are not at all confident' about this.
And 16% of internet users over 55 said they never' consider the data or privacy implications when posting photos online the largest proportion to say never' among all age groups.[8]
Some older internet users were also unsure about sponsored links in search results. A quarter (27%) of search engine users aged over 75 said they were unsure, and less than half (46%) felt able to identify sponsored links.
Similarly, awareness of personalised advertising seems to be lower among some older users with seven in ten (72%) over 75s, and six in ten (60%) 65-74s saying they were unaware of this type of advertising, compared to the average of 44%.
Alison Preston, Head of Media Literacy at Ofcom, said: The UK's older generation is beginning to embrace smart technology, and using it to keep in touch with friends and family.
But some older people lack confidence online, or struggle to navigate search results. Many are new to the internet, so we'd encourage people to help older friends or family who need support getting connected.
People can find practical advice and information on the Ofcom website.
ENDS
There is lots of practical advice on the Ofcom website about a range of telecoms and consumer related issues, including information on how to keep your smartphone safe, and information on using apps safely and securely.
This report mostly draws on data from the Adults' Media Use and Attitudes survey which took place in autumn 2016, with previous-year comparisons from autumn 2015. The report also draws on additional data from another Ofcom research study - the Technology Trackersurvey in2017. Fieldwork took place between January and February 2017.
There are three different bases used in this news release, 1) all adults, 2) all adults who go online and 3) all adults who use social media. Where we don't indicate otherwise, the base is all adults who go online'. The base for this question is all adults'.
The base for this question is all adults'.
The base for this question is adults who use social media' and the question was, what social media account do you consider to be your main account.
The base for this question is all adults'.
The base for this question is adults who use social media.
While one in five internet users aged over 65 said they are not confident, this compared to 8% of all adult internet users. And while 16% of over 55s said they never consider the security implications of posting photos, this compared to 9% of all internet users.
While one in five internet users aged over 65 said they are not confident, this compared to 8% of all adult internet users. And while 16% of over 55s said they never consider the security implications of posting photos, this compared to 9% of all internet users.
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Rise of the Social Seniors revealed 14 June 2017 
