Wheelchairs, Diapers and the Ever-Expanding Internet
A very good friend of mine in his 60’s had been working in marketing for over 40 years for a very large multi-national corporation. Though some might think it impossible to work in the 21st century without a computer, my friend never even turned one on until a few years ago. An added twist is that he learned how to use a blackberry before ever learning how to use a desktop or laptop computer!
With innovative new technology and software to make us even faster, new American users from all age groups are consistently getting online. My friend who happens to be part of the “Older Boomers” generation is one of an ever-increasing part of the online community pie. Before you know it, grandpa and grandma will be able to decimate your computer’s Solitaire scores and Blackberry’s Brick Breakers scores!
2009 - Online Generations
To see how each demographic and generation behaves on the internet, we turn to a recent 2009 study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life Project. Below are the top ten statistics we gleaned from the research that may help guide your business:
1. More than half of the online population is between 18-44 years old.
2. Teens and Generation Y are the most likely groups to use the internet for entertainment and for communicating with friends and family.
3. Generation X is the most likely group to bank, shop and look for health information online.
4. Generation X internet users account for 67% of online banking and 80% of buying products online.
5. Older Generations (Younger Boomers, Older Boomers, Silent Generation and G.I. Generation) use the internet less for socializing and entertainment and more as a tool for information searches, emailing, and buying products.
6. Email remains the most popular online activity, especially with the older demographics.
7. 74% of internet users age 64 and older send and receive email, making email the most popular online activity for this age group. Though email is so popular, only 73% of teens currently use email, which is down from 89% of teens using email in 2004.
8. Since 2005, the biggest increase in internet-use has been with 70-75 year-olds. 45% of 70-75 year-olds are currently online.
9. Teen internet users’ favorite online activity is game playing; 78% of 12-17 year-old internet users play games online compared with 73% of online teens who email, the second most popular activity for this age group.
10. Younger Boomers and Older Boomers are just as likely as Generation Y to make travel reservations online.
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[...] been a tipping point for the Internet. We are now in a new era of interactivity and understanding. Across generations and levels of geekdom, the web and its 2.0/Social Media interactivity have become a part of daily [...]
[...] been a tipping point for the Internet. We are now in a new era of interactivity and understanding. Across generations and levels of geekdom, the web and its 2.0/Social Media interactivity have become a part of daily [...]