Seniors Gaining Momentum in Social Media, But...

Social networking use among Internet users ages 50 and older nearly doubled in the year ending May 2010, jumping from 22% to 42%. During that year social network usage among young people only grew 13% but they still dominate social networks. This repeats the pattern of Web adoption where adults 50 to 65 started out slow but at one time exceeded usage by young adults 18 to 24. 

According to Pew Internet Report author Mary Madden, e-mail still dominates online communication for the 50 and older set as it does for adults in general.

From the Pew Internet Report:

• Between April 2009 and May 2010, social networking use among Internet users ages 50-64 grew by 88%--from 25% to 47%.
• During the same period, use among those ages 65 and older grew 100%--from 13% to 26%.
• By comparison, social networking use among users ages 18-29 grew by 13%—from 76% to 86%.
  
  

Seniors and Social Networking: Facebook vs. Twitter

Seniors have a significant presence on Facebook with women in this age category up more than 175% since fall 2008 and men up almost 138%, according to the Pew Research Center and eMarketer.

In this article by Marketing Vox, Varsity, which focuses on senior marketing research, points to AARP.org's year-old social networking platform - which now has 350,000 users in 1,700 groups - as additional proof that seniors have become an important social network constituency.

Twitter, though, is an exception, say Amy Beamer, COO, "We are not seeing that many tweets from seniors. Facebook, yes. Blogging, definitely yes." In some part, this is a reflection of larger trends: Facebook is growing faster than Twitter, generally.

But for seniors specifically, Facebook is more attractive from a utilitarian perspective. "It is easier to keep up with grandchildren or adult children on Facebook."

Beamer has these suggestions for reaching out to seniors on Twitter

1. Give them a better sense of what is in it for them to use Twitter. Such strategies could be anything from offering coupons or Twitter-specific sales to enticing people from their generation to Tweet on issues.
2. Identify the topics in which they are interested. For example, there were signs that seniors were following the health insurance overhaul debate on Twitter, Beamer says. Less obvious but equally compelling topics would be RV travel or time share management - subjects of big interest to active seniors.

Read the article...

Top 10 Websites For Boomers and Seniors in 2009

By Susan Levine

With the current economic downturn, more boomers and seniors are searching for reassurance and relief on the web - not only for a kind of financial first aid but also for healthy outlets for their time and energy. In addition, they are finding the web to be less a mystery and more of a tool to make their lives meaningful and productive.

The volume of information on the Internet, however, can be overwhelming. I've reviewed thousands of web sites to find user-friendly and relevant resources for inclusion in my Boomer search engine. To compile my Top 10 list of trustworthy, informative, and enjoyable sites for 2009, I've selected the sites that I've revisited many times. I'm sure you too, will find them invaluable in this upcoming year.

1. Grandparents.com
Where it's "great to be grand"! The grandkids are coming over and you're panicking? How can you entertain them? Look no further than Grandparents.com, "the place for today's new generation of active, involved grandparents."

Among the volumes of information supplied are assorted age-appropriate and weather-appropriate "things to do" (even in dozens of cities) including suggestions that won't cost thrifty grandparents a dime. Mix in travel, gift (find the perfect toy), video, and food suggestions (you even might be inspired to cook with your little darlings). Take advantage of expert advice on family, education, law, finance and health and get a peek into the psyche of celebrity grandparents. You'll get a treasure trove of information.

This is one site you won't want to leave home or stay home without.

2. Dynamic Living
Where can you find photographed independent living aids displayed boldly and accurately? Protected by the Better Business Bureau of Connecticut, Dynamic Living consumers shop either by use (moving around, sitting/standing, vision, communication, care giving, memory) or by location (car, kitchen, bathroom).

I like this site for its clarity, simplicity, readability, references and responsiveness. Two warnings:  See what other customers recommend but select well to avoid restocking charges. Also, customer service operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST only.

3.  Elder Law Answers 
Get your age-driven legal questions answered on Elderlaw. Elderlaw covers Medicaid, Medicare, nursing home rights, and estate planning.  Elderlaw 101 dumbs down additional topics, including veterans benefits, so you don't need to have a law degree to understand.  Find state-specific information and an attorney or listen to ElderLaw radio (today's featured show is "Finding the Money to Age Well.").

77 Percent of Senior Citizens Shop Online

More than 77% of online Americans ages 65+ say they shop online, the highest percentage among any generational group.  A study by the Cable & Telecommunications Association for Marketing (CTAM) found that older Americans - including both Seniors and the younger Baby Boomers - have overwhelmingly made the Internet an integral part of their everyday lives and often rival younger generations in online activities.

Seniors Online in Droves
94% of online seniors  regularly use email, 71% go to the Internet to look up health and medical information, 70% read news, and 59% use the Internet to manage their finances and banking. They also turn online for gaming with approximately half (47%) of online Matures regularly play free online games.

Read the full study...

Old and Young Use Internet Differently

Americans who are part of Generation X are most likely to bank, shop and look for health information online, Baby Boomers are as likely as Generation Y to make travel reservations online, and members of the Silent Generation are proficient with email and are gaining ground online, according to surveys from the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project.

The Generations Online in 2009 (pdf)  research, which was conducted between 2006 and 2008, specifically examines internet use by generation, and discovers big differences in online behaviors by age. Though 74% of all US adults are online, younger users ages 12-28 have embraced online applications that enable communicative, creative, and social uses, older users are more likely to engage in online activities that require some capital, such as travel reservations and online banking.

It also finds that though more than half of America’s online population is between ages 18-44,  larger percentages of older Americans are going online and doing more things there than they have in the past. The biggest increase in internet use since 2005 is in the 70-75 year-old age group. While just over one-fourth (26%) of 70-75 year olds were online in 2005, 45% of that age group is currently online.

Email Remains Most Popular
Instant messaging, social networking, and blogging have gained ground as communications tools, but email remains the most popular online activity, particularly among older internet users, the survey found.

Three quarters (74%) of internet users ages 64+ send and receive email, making email the most popular online activity for this age group. At the same time, email has lost some ground among teens. Some 89% of teens said they used email in 2004, but only 73% say they do now.

Read the rest of the study...

Mature Adults Gravitate to Vibrant, Single-Image Ads

Mature consumers prefer single-image advertisements over ads with multi-image collages by a margin of 66% to 34%, and also gravitate to images that show products and lifestyles, according to a recent image-preference survey by Creating Results.

The older a consumer, the stronger his or her positive feelings for images in which the model’s face was clearly identifiable vs. cropped photographs. 76% of those over age 75 preferred recognizable photos, as well as 75% of 65-74-year-olds and 62% of those ages 55-64.

Yet another factor to consider for user centered designs.