Lee Rainie, director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, will describe the Project’s research about those 65 and older use of technology. In early 2012, for the first time ever, more than 50% of older Americans are internet users and an even higher share have mobile phones. This is changing the way people gather, share, and create information. And it is changing the way they communicate and act in groups. Rainie will discuss major themes from his new book, Networked: The New Social Operating System, about how people ‘network’ in new ways in the digital age and how these themes apply to older technology users, as well as younger users.

1. PewInternet.org
Senior Citizens and Digital Technology
George Mason University
September 15, 2012
Lee Rainie: Director, Pew Internet Project
Email: Lrainie@pewinternet.org

2. Generational self-definition

3. Internet users – 85%
96% 93%
87%
79%
67%
40%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

4. Broadband at home – 66%
76% 74%
67%
58%
47%
21%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

5. Digital devices
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)
All online
adults
(18+)
Cell phone 96% 95% 91% 85% 76% 63% 89%
Desktop
computer 54% 68% 66% 61% 54% 31% 58%
Laptop
computer 73% 69% 62% 49% 39% 20% 61%
iPod or MP3
player 69% 57% 36% 24% 10% 5% 44%
Game
console 63% 63% 38% 19% 8% 3% 42%
e-Book
reader 20% 26% 19% 13% 9% 5% 21%
Tablet, like
iPad 28% 30% 27% 23% 17% 6% 25%

6. Smartphones – 46%
66%
59%
38%
27%
12%
3%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

7. 56%
40%
25%
11%
4%
1%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
GenX
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers (57-
65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)
Download apps– 46%

8. Use social networking sites – 59%
82%
68%
55%
37%
24%
15%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

9. 318.5
197.6
155.7
85.1 78.4
42.0
0.0
50.0
100.0
150.0
200.0
250.0
300.0
350.0
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)
Mean size of SNS network

10. Other internet
activities

11. Internet activities – Email
% of internet users
92% 92% 91% 89% 88%
82%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

12. Internet activities – Search engines
% of internet users
95% 90% 90% 92% 88%
61%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

13. Internet activities – hobby or interest
% of internet users
88% 84% 89%
82%
68%
61%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

14. Internet activities – maps or directions
% of internet users
87% 82% 83% 85%
77% 74%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

15. Internet activities – Weather
% of internet users
82% 84% 79%
86% 84%
54%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

16. Internet activities – health info
% of internet users
77% 73% 71% 69%
63%
49%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

17. Internet activities – get news
% of internet users
77% 82% 77% 76%
66%
45%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

18. Internet activities – for fun
% of internet users
87%
76%
67% 63% 59%
47%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

19. Internet activities – buy product
% of internet users
73% 70% 73% 78%
57%
47%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

20. Internet activities – video-sharing site
% of internet users
91%
77%
62%
49%
34%
27%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

21. Mobile activities

22. Internet activities – mobile pix
% of cell owners
94%
88%
81%
72%
50%
22%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

23. Mobile activities – texting
% of cell owners
97% 92%
79%
61%
41%
10%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

24. Mobile activities – access internet
% of cell owners
78%
67%
46%
32%
14%
5%0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

25. Mobile activities – mobile email
% of cell owners
66% 61%
44%
28%
13%
6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

26. Mobile activities – check bank account
% of cell owners
44%
31%
25%
14% 9% 5%0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Millennials
(18-34)
Gen X
(35-46)
Younger
Boomers
(47-56)
Older
Boomers
(57-65)
Silent
Generation
(66-74)
G.I.
Generation
(75+)

27. Other social media

28. Social media – Twitter
% of internet users
27%
15%
12%
7%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Ages 18-29 Ages 30-49 Ages 50-64 Ages 65+

29. Social media – LinkedIn
% of internet users
16%
25%
22%
11%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Ages 18-29 Ages 30-49 Ages 50-64 Ages 65+

30. Social media – Pinterest
% of internet users
16%
12%
13%
4%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
Ages 18-29 Ages 30-49 Ages 50-64 Ages 65+

31. Social media – Instagram
% of internet users
27%
8%
6%
4%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Ages 18-29 Ages 30-49 Ages 50-64 Ages 65+

32. Social media – Tumblr
% of internet users
11%
4%
2%
1%
0%
5%
10%
15%
Ages 18-29 Ages 30-49 Ages 50-64 Ages 65+

33. Be not
afraid

34. Thank you!