Wednesday, August 01, 2012

Tech Gadgets for Retirees

US News has an interesting article on internet usage among post-middle-age people... That's the most tactful way I can say "senior citizens."

The article cites research by Princeton Survey Research Associates International, showing that in 2012, more than half of adults age 65 and older use the Internet, according to a the survey of 2,254 adults.

This technology includes a broadband connection, cell phone, email, computer, tablet e-readers, and reveals a startling percentage of older people are active online.

Social networking sites. Young people ages 18 to 29 are the most prolific users of Facebook, LinkedIn, and similar websites (86 percent), and some 66 percent of adult Internet users are now part of an online network. Retirees are beginning to join in significant numbers. Social networking site use among Internet users ages 65 and older more than doubled from 13 percent in 2009 to 34 percent in 2012. And even 20 percent of people over age 75 use social networking sites.

So, in reaching your audience online, don't overlook the face that over a third of social media users are out there reading, watching, reacting.