Older Americans and the Internet

Part 1. 22% of Americans 65 and older use the Internet

The gap is narrowing, but Americans age 65 and older still lag behind younger generations when it comes to Internet access.

In 1996, just 2% of Americans age 65 or older went online.1 By the year 2000, that percent had increased to 15% of seniors.2 In a February 2004 survey, 22% of Americans age 65 or older reported having access to the Internet. This represents a 47% increase between 2000 and 2004. Eight million seniors now go online. By contrast, 58% of Americans age 50-64, 75% of 30-49 year-olds, and 77% of 18-29 year-olds go online as of February 2004. 

“Wired seniors” — Americans age 65 and older who say they go online to access the Internet or World Wide Web or to send and receive email

If they do not go online, seniors are the least likely group to live with someone who does.  Just 13% of non-users age 65 or older live in a household with Internet access, compared to 35% of non-users age 50-64 years old.3

“Off-line seniors” or “non-user seniors” — Americans age 65 and older who do not use the Internet

Notes

1 Pew Research Center for the People and the Press: April 1996 Biennial Media Consumption Survey. Available at: http://people-press.org/reports/display.php3?ReportID=127

2 Fox, Susannah. Pew Internet & American Life Project: “Wired Seniors: A fervent few, inspired by family ties.” (September 9, 2001) Available at: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2001/Wired-Seniors.aspx

3 Lenhart, Amanda. Pew Internet & American Life Project: “The Ever-shifting Internet Population: A new look at Internet access and the digital divide.” (April 16, 2003) Available at: http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2003/The-EverShifting-Internet-Population-A-new-look-at-Internet-access-and-the-digital-divide.aspx

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The Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project is one of seven projects that make up the Pew Research Center. The Center is supported by The Pew Charitable Trust.