Older Scots miss out on online deals

Almost half a million older people could be missing out on essential services and the best deals if they do not use the internet, a charity has warned.

Research by the Centre for Ageing Better and Good Things Foundation shows a sharp divide between digital haves and have-nots, with almost 94 per cent of people who are not online aged over 55.

An estimated 465,000 older Scots do not use the internet, according to figures released by the Office of National Statistics, meaning they may be missing out on online benefits and the best deals from banks, energy suppliers and other companies.

Only around three quarters of 65 to 74-year-olds were online in 2017, up nearly 50 per cent from 2011 figures. For those over 75, only two in five used the internet, slightly over double the number in 2011.

Brian Sloan, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: “Although more and more older people now use the internet, not everyone is able to or chooses to. As services increasingly move online, it’s vital to ensure that older and more vulnerable people are not left behind.”