1. Older Adults and Internet Use: (Some of) What we know Mary Madden, Senior Researcher Pew Research Center October 21, 2013 University of Michigan

2. About Pew Internet Part of the Pew Research Center, a non-partisan “fact tank” in Washington, DC Studying how people use digital technologies since 1999. Does not promote specific technologies or make policy recommendations Research is primarily based on nationally representative surveys of U.S. adults

3. 1 Internet Use Among Older Adults 2 Broadband + Smartphone Ownership 3 Social Media Use 4 Health Info Seeking 5 An Invitation

4. Part One: Internet Use Among Older Adults

5. Older Adults + Internet Use: 2013 85% of all adults are online. Among 65+, 56% are online. 70% of adults have broadband at home. Among 65+, 43% have broadband. Increasing numbers of all adults are using mobile phones to go online.

6. Offline adults by age % in each group who do not use the internet or email % who do not go online All Americans ages 18+ (n=2,252) 15% Age a18-29 (n=404)2 b30-49 (n=577) 8 a c50-64 (n=641) 17 ab d65+ (n=570) 44 abc Source: Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project Spring Tracking Survey, April 17 – May 19, 2013. N=2,252 adults ages 18+. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish and on landline and cell phones. The margin of error for results based on all adults is +/- 2.3 percentage points. Among adults ages 77+ 62% are offline

7. What is the main reason you don’t use the internet or email? Source: Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project Surveys. Data for 2013 from Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project Spring Tracking Survey, April 17 – May 19, 2013. N=2,252 adults ages 18+. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish and on landline and cell phones.

8. Other barriers for 65+ Assistance is needed: just 13% of non-internet users ages 65+ said they would know enough to go online without help from someone else. But few are interested enough to seek it: Just 5% of offline adults in this age group say they would like to start using the internet or email. Many are making due with secondary use: 44% of non- internet users ages 65+ have asked a friend or family member to look something up or complete a task on the internet for them.

9. Part Two: Broadband + Smartphone Ownership

11. Home broadband demographics 2013 % in each group who have high-speed broadband at home % with home broadband All Americans ages 18+ (n=2,252) 70% Age a 18-29 (n=404)80 cd b 30-49 (n=577)78 cd c 50-64 (n=641)69 d d 65+ (n=570)43 Source: Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project Spring Tracking Survey, April 17 – May 19, 2013. N=2,252 adults ages 18+. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish and on landline and cell phones. The margin of error for results based on all adults is +/- 2.3 percentage points.

12. Smartphone ownership over time % of all U.S. adults who own…

13. Smartphone ownership, by age % within each group who own a smartphone Own a smartphone All adults (n=2,252)56% Age a 18-24 (n=243) 79 cdef b 25-34 (n=284) 81 cdef c 35-44 (n=292) 69 def d 45-54 (n=377) 55 ef e 55-64 (n=426) 39 f f 65+ (n=570)18 Source: Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, April 17-May 19, 2013 Tracking Survey. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish and on landline and cell phones. Margin of error is +/-2.3 percentage points based on all adults (n=2,252).

14. Part Three: Social Media Use

15. How many adults use social media? 72% of online adults use a social networking site, representing more than half of the entire adult population in the U.S. Young people are the heaviest users of social networking sites (SNS). Facebook is still the dominant platform, but users are increasingly diversifying their social media portfolios.

16. SNS use by age group, 2005-2013 % of internet users in each age group who use social networking sites

17. Twitter use by age group, over time % of adult internet users in each age group who use Twitter

18. Motivations for social networking use For adults ages 50+ staying in touch with family is the #1 reason they use SNS For adults under age 50, staying in touch with friends is more important

19. Part Four: Health Info Seeking

20. Chronic Conditions vs. Health Info Seeking % of all adults, by age

21. All Adults N=3,014 Age 18-29 N=478 30-49 N=833 50-64 N=814 65+ N=830 (a)(b)(c)(d) Specific disease or medical problem4550 d 52 cd 45 d 23 Certain medical treatment or procedure3538 d 43 cd 34 d 19 Health insurance, including private insurance, Medicare or Medicaid 2024 cd 25 cd 18 d 10 Pregnancy and childbirth1024 cde 12 de 10 Food safety or recalls1617 d 22 de 14 d 7 Drug safety or recalls1314 d 17 d 13 d 4 Medical test results1212 d 14 d 5 How to lose weight or control your weight2231 de 28 de 16 d 6 How to reduce health care costs910 d 12 d 9d9d 3 Caring for an aging relative or friend1212 d 15 d 11 d 4 Drug you saw advertised1315 d 14 d 6 Any other health issue1717 d 21 d 17 d 8 Health Topics, by Age % of all adults who have ever looked online for information about various health topics, by age

22. Consulting reviews and rankings online, by age % of internet users within each age group who consulted online reviews or rankings for the following subjects Source: Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project, August 7-September 6, 2012 Survey. N=3,014 adults and the margin of error is +/- 2.6 percentage points for internet users.

23. Caregivers and “Information Triage” Four in ten adults in the U.S. are caring for an adult or child with significant health issues, up from 30% in 2010. 59% of caregivers with internet access say that online resources have been helpful to their ability to provide care and support for the person in their care. 52% of caregivers with internet access say that online resources have been helpful to their ability to cope with the stress of being a caregiver.

24. Part Five: An Invitation

25. www.pewinternet.org data

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27. Thank you! Email: mmadden@pewinternet.org Twitter: mary_madden Web: