Generations on Line -- the nonprofit program for Internet literacy and Access for the elderly, estimates some 21 million people over 65 do not and will not ever use the Internet, unless we intervene.

  • Of the 34.5 million Americans over 65, only 34% use the Internet.
    Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project 2006

  • "Wired seniors" (internet users age 65 or older) "are often cited as the fastest-growing demographic group online, but that description can be misleading. Most of the growth in this group over the last few years has come from long-time internet users in their early sixties aging into senior status. There is little evidence that many non-users in their seventies and eighties are suddenly getting the internet bug."
    Source: Pew Internet & American Life, "Are Wired Seniors Sitting Ducks?", April 2006

  • 28% of Americans age 70 and older go online - compared to 73% of all Americans online.
    Source: Pew Internet & American Life, "Are Wired Seniors Sitting Ducks?", April 2006

  • A national Kaiser Family Foundation survey of older Americans found that as the Internet becomes an increasingly important resource for informing decisions about health and health care options, less than a third (31%) of seniors (age 65 and older) have ever gone online, but that more than two-thirds (70%) of the next generation of seniors (50-64 year-olds) have done so.
    Source: : e-Health and the Elderly: How Seniors Use the Internet for Health - Survey 2005

  • Seniors who become adept at and use a computer appear to have fewer depressive symptoms than those older adults who aren't so technologically connected.
    Source: Depression and Social Support Among Older Adult Computer Users, presented August 18 at the 113th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association

  • Just 11% of African Americans over 65 use the Internet.
  • 79% of people over 65 not online say they won't ever go online.
    Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project April 2003 - The Evershifting Internet Population

  • From October 2002 to October 2003, the numbers of seniors 65 and older online increased 25 percent, up from 7.6 million to 9.6 million, making them the fastest growing group of Internet users
    Source: Nielsen/NetRatings 2004

  • 38% of disabled Americans go online.
    Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project April 2003 - The Evershifting Internet Population

In earlier studies, the reasons for not having a computers were:
  • 47% said they have no interest or no need for a computer. Of those, 41% said they are fine without one - citing no need.

  • Of the 24% who said they don't like the technology, 15 % said it is "too complicated,"

  • 13% said "I'm too old to learn how to use a computer;"

  • 5% said "I don't like computers, don't trust technology."

  • 15% cited cost.

  • Over 70, 14% said they used the public library for Internet access (this compares with only 1% for those under 70).
    Source: SeniorNet Study 1998. Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., October 1998

  • "Community learning centers can fill the gap left by the lack of family or friends willing or able to help. Philadelphia-based Generations on Line has developed step-by-step software designed specifically for those born [before 1939] between 1920 and 1929 and provides training at over 1200 (updated 2006) centers in 48 states and Canada."
    Source: Source: Pew Internet & American Life Project 2004

Generations on the Internet 2006:
  • 89% of 18-28 year-olds
  • 86% of 29-40 year-olds
  • 78% of 41-50 year-olds
  • 72% of 51-59 year-olds
  • 54% of 60-69 year-olds
  • 34% of those over 65
  • 28% of those 70 and older
Source: Pew Internet & American Life - "Truth about Wired Seniors - Are Seniors Sitting Ducks?" April 2006
     

 

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