71% of Adults over 65 use the Internet every day

In a new survey on Internet use by older adults (over 65) the Pew Research Internet Project reported a lot of new data about Internet usage by this group. As an instructor who teaches adults of all ages how to use technology for fun and profit, this report had a lot of data that validated what I see in my classes. Here are some of the key findings:

• Two groups of older adults exist - a younger (under 75), more educated (college), and more affluent group, and an older (75+), less affluent, and often disabled group. The first group owns tech devices at a rate similar to younger age groups, and uses the Internet and it's resources more frequently. The older group is disconnected from the Internet and it's resources. 
• Internet usage by older adults has increased. In 2012, Pew reported that slightly over half of all older adults (53%) were Internet users, today that number has increased to 59%, an increase of 6%.
• Seniors as a whole lag behind the rest of the population. Of all adults over 65, a whopping 41% say they do not use the Internet at all, 53% do not have broadband access at home, and 23% do not use cell phones. However, the drop-off occurs around the age of 75, with 74% of those 65-69 using the Internet., compared to 47% of those 75-79.
• For seniors with an annual income over $75K, 90% go online and 82% have broadband at home, while only 39% go online for those earning less than $30K, and only 25% of this group has broadband Internet access.
• For those with a college degree, 87% go online with 76% using broadband at home, while the numbers are 40% and 27% for those without a college degree.
• Adults over 75 in particular face physical challenges to using new technology, often due to a disability.
• Older adults who don't use the Internet often don't think they are missing out. 35% of older non-Internet users don't feel that they are missing out on information.
• New technology is a challenge for older adults with only 18% saying they would feel comfortable learning a new technology such as a smartphone or tablet on their own and a huge 77% who indicated they would need someone to walk them through using it. For seniors who don't use social networking sites, 56% said they would need help to use these sites.

This poll points out what I see in my classes, older adults need help learning new technology, even if they want to be connected and use the Internet. With the rapid pace of changes by tech vendors, this makes the process even more challenging for older adults who want to keep up. However, once older adults are using the Internet, they find it very satisfying and informative. I think this means a constant need for teaching is ahead of me.