Report shows how older Australians largely embrace online benefits

The FiftyUp Club is a child of two fundamental changes sweeping through our society—the digital revolution which make such groups possible and the dramatic demographic ageing of the population.

It’s sometimes argued older Australians are less able to take advantage of all the benefits the digital world can bring (lower cost and convenience) and more vulnerable to its disadvantages (scams and isolation).

So the latest report from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) on the online engagement of those aged more than 65 is always of interest.

The report reminds us those over 65 were already in their 40s, or older, by the time the dinosaur of dial-up internet emerged in the mid-1990s.

The upside of the research is that the vast majority of older Australians are participating online, and while at lower levels than other age cohorts, their proportion is growing.

Some 79% of older Australians have reported using the internet at some time compared with only about 57% of their American and UK counterparts.

And they are taking their time about it too. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics those aged over 65 spent seven hours on average online in any given week compared to the national average of 9.9 hours

Not surprisingly those aged 18-24 managed to rack up almost 17 hours a week.

The older citizens much prefer to access the ’net from the security of their home as opposed to wireless hotspots or the workplace.

At home they use desktop computers (41%) in preference to laptops (27%) and tablets (18%) and even mobile phones (12%).

In 2014 tablets were used by just 10% of the older population so there has been sizable growth since then.

And the use of tablets is higher amongst older Australians at 18%, than of the population in general 16%, presumably because tablets are easier to use and suit them better.

Email is the most used online activity by 76% of older Australians as against 84% for all adult internet users. Around half of older internet users did their banking online and paid bills. Around 40% bought or sold online too.

And social media-wise 43% of older users engaged online, compared with 72% to all those aged over 15, with their favourite sites being Facebook by a country mile and then Google+ and LinkedIn.

They are keen users of communications apps such as Skype and Facebook Messenger and rusted on to traditional media such as broadcast TV.

They were most likely to read a newspaper (75%) compared with all adult internet users  (51%) and least likely to access video online registering just 22% compared to 47%.

With more government services, such as health, going online the focus is now on the estimated one million adult Australians who have never been online of whom 71% were aged 65 and over.

The main reason given by those with no home internet to ACMA was no need, lack of interest, too complex and no computer at home.

The government has pledged $50 million in new programs to help older Australians participate more in the digital economy and improve their online safety.