by CHritz
7. July 2010 23:50
Times have changed. While people 65 and older still make up only around 10 percent of active Internet users, their numbers are growing. In the last few years, the amount of these active “Silver Surfers” has increased by more than 55 percent, from 11.3 million in November 2004 to 17.5 million in November 2009, according to the latest data from Nielsen. In addition, these Senior Surfers are spending more time on the online, totaling an average of 58 hours in 2009.
What’s particularly interesting are senior’s browsing habits and what keeps them busy on the web. According to Nielsen’s research, the number one online destination for people 65 and over in 2009 was Google Search, followed by Windows Media Player, Facebook, YouTube, Amazon and others.
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Top 10 Online Destinations Visited by People 65+ in November 2009 (U.S., Home and Work)
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RANK
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Site
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Unique Audience (000)
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Unique Audience Composition (%)
|
|
1
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Google Search
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10,253
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7.7
|
|
2
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Windows Media Player
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8,241
|
10.9
|
|
3
|
Facebook
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7,946
|
7.2
|
|
4
|
YouTube
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7,668
|
8.4
|
|
5
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Amazon
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5,679
|
9.3
|
|
6
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Yahoo! Mail
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5,638
|
7.8
|
|
7
|
Yahoo! Search
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5,583
|
8.7
|
|
8
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Yahoo! Homepage
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5,383
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6.8
|
|
9
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Bing Web
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4,510
|
10.1
|
|
10
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Google Maps
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4,397
|
8.4
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Source: The Nielsen Company
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Of particular interest is the impressive rise of Facebook to the number three slot after being ranked the 45th most visited site by seniors in 2008. It makes sense that seniors are currently navigating social networks such as Facebook and YouTube with increased frequency because they are now the dominant form of communication for their children and grandchildren.
In addition to social networks, seniors are turning to the Internet to justify and research decisions they make, same as younger demographics. They are seeking answers to their questions about health, doctors, managing Medicare and even if the iPad has senior appeal. All of which can they are finding online at mainstream websites in addition to blogs, forums, podcasts and other platforms. Point is that the Internet is no longer the domain of the young. It too is a place where seniors are gathering in increasing numbers and exploring the world wide web. Of course, in the not so distance future as the baby boomer generation, who are very computer savvy, age it will certainly increase the number of seniors online.
At Interim HealthCare we provide a social community for seniors and caregivers through our blog. You can also follow us on Twitter by clicking here for the latest in senior related news and informative articles.
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