A new survey has suggested that tablet computers are encouraging more older folk to go online.
The annual survey carried out by Ofcom analyses the way Brits spend their time using technology. This year’s report shows that the number of people over the age of 65 going online has risen by more than a quarter, to a new total of 42%.
This strong rise has been put down to increased tablet use among more mature users. The number of over 65s using a tablet for going online increased from 5% in 2012 to 17% in 2013. Even so, the over 65s only spent a little over 9 hours online each week. This is the lowest of any UK age group and well behind the 24 hours that people between 16 and 24 spend on the internet on a weekly basis.
83% of Adults Now Use the Internet
Overall, internet use has reached a total of 83% among adults in the UK. Tablets are used by 30% of people to go online, while 59& use their phones and 78% used a PC, laptop or netbook.
Another interesting snippet from the results is that around half of the apps that we download are pretty useless, as we use them so little. The average smartphone user has 23 apps on their device but only uses 10 of them on a regular basis. Among the most popular apps are those these give news feeds or allow the user to watch videos or listen to music.
From your own experience, do you believe that older Brits are now spending more time online?
Photo: Getty Images
