2001-09-08-皮尤-Wired_Seniors_14页_113kb

Report Summary: Wired Seniors (Pew Internet & American Life Project, 2001)

Overview

The study highlights a significant "gray gap" in internet usage between older Americans (≥65) and younger populations. Only 15% of seniors use the internet, compared to 56% for the age group of 50-64 and 56% overall. Despite their small numbers (comprising 4% of the internet population), these "wired seniors" derive substantial benefits from online activities.

Key Findings

1. Motivation: The primary reason for seniors starting online is personal desire (48%) or family encouragement (48%), contrasting with younger users influenced by work/school and friends.
2. Demographics: Online seniors are predominantly male (60%), married, highly educated (76% have some college), and financially comfortable (especially men). Experience varies significantly, but longer experience correlates with increased usage and diversity of activities.
3. Key Activities: Email and staying connected with family are top priorities and most popular offline activities. They moderately engage in hobbies and health information seeking but less so in online shopping, music, downloads, gaming, and financial transactions like banking.
4. Benefits: While derived from small numbers, it's noted that internet use improves family connections for seniors and signals increasing willingness to continue or adopt more online activities as they become "veterans".
5. Barriers & Reservations: A majority (81%) of seniors overall do not intend to go online. Among non-users, older age groups show higher resistance, citing lack of perceived benefit or economic concerns (though expense is less prominent than in younger demographics). Many are disconnected from technology and do not use computers even before retirement.
6. "Silver Tsunami": The report suggests the cohort aged 50-64 ("pre-retirement") is a major potential demographic for future internet growth even after retirement. This group mirrors general internet usage patterns more closely than current seniors.

Main Conclusions

• There is a large "gray gap" in internet usage between those aged 65+ and the rest of the population.
• Wealthy, educated seniors are the primary "wired" group, often encouraged by family.
• Their primary motivation and usage patterns differ from younger age groups.
• While experiencing significant underutilization by seniors overall, those who are online use the internet meaningfully, particularly valuing email and family connection. There is considerable potential for expansion of internet use among older Americans.