Ages Using Internet

[Nutty]

Hola

I have a new client and we are building a new website and carrying out SEO, he said a very strange thing to me the other day which kind of contradicted what we are doing, he said

"people over 40 do not use the internet"

I was stunned by his comment and I wondered why we were even bothering, especially as their clients are over 40, not to mention that every single client I have is over 40, my husband is 41 and a programmer! LOL

I wondered if anyone knew the best place to find reports on the age group of users on the internet, I would like to show them stats, personally I would say the 40+ age group would be a high user of the internet next to the kids!

Thanks

Simone

[Logan]

Hey, don't be so quick to throw me in that group. I'm only 37!

[BBlackwood]

Here are the stats from 2006:

http://www.itfacts.biz/internet-acti...age-group/5652

I'm sure you can find even more up-to-date info if you search the Web.

Also, it has lately been reported that Facebook and Twitters users over 40 are the fastest-growing demographic.

[torka]

Well, according to this article, in February of 2009, something like 22% of Facebook users were over the age of 35. In addition, the fastest-growing groups on Facebook were (in order) those 45-54 years old (+165.8%), those 35-44 years old (+138.7%) and those 55+ years old (+137.8%). And these sorts of growth rates have been pretty consistent from at least late 2007 on.

Of course, Facebook isn't "the Internet," but it's on the Web.

You might also find some useful information in one of the charts found in this PDF released by Nielsen Online in August 2008. Indicates that about half of all Internet users are over the age of 35, including 23% over the age of 55. Not only are older folks (myself included) a large group online, they spend more time online than those in younger age groups.

Scroll down to the second page to see the age breakdown.

This is apparently a pretty consistent result. I also found this article from 2006, showing that those over the age of 50 represented the largest age group online.

HTH dispel some of the "older folks aren't online" myths under which your client is currently laboring...

--Torka

[esanders]

The results are as expected

[acwebguru]

People who are over 40 have an usual inhibition or apartheid for Internet. But they are fast overcoming this inhibition as Internet is fast becoming a part of our lifestyle. I am 23 and I just cannot spend a day without accessing Google. I feel terrified at the idea of not getting connected to internet.

[hlassetter]

I'm 48 and my husband is 58 and we use the internet everyday. Wouldn't have it any other way.

[Wayne Liew]

This is the common assumption I would say but it's not true. A lot of business owners discard certain marketing strategies such as online marketing and social media marketing because of such assumptions and I can only say that they are missing out on a huge opportunity.

Think about this. There might be some out there that are still not getting on the Internet. However, the trends show that there will be more people getting online every year.

Test test and test. Yes, if you are serving those who are currently in their 80s, online marketing may not be wise but for long term, yes.

[Networking FL]

Don't believe now old age people also started to using internet so not to worry you can go ahead.