Silver surfers on the rise

Number of over 75s using the internet increases for eighth year in a row

INTERNET usage among those aged 75 and over has increased dramatically since 2013 - but many were still not online at the start of the pandemic. Internet usage has been consistently on the rise in the UK, and now around 92% of people aged 16 and over say they have recently used the internet compared to 83% in 2013.

In 2013, two-thirds of people (66%) in the UK aged 75 and over had never used the internet, by 2020 it had been reduced to 38%.

This was especially true for women aged 75 and over, who saw a 30 percentage point decline over the last eight years in the proportion who had never used the internet - from 73% to 43%.

But the figures show a huge age disparity - 99% of adults between 16-44 were recent internet users, compared with only 54% of adults aged 75 and over.

In fact, well over 2 million adults over the age of 75 have never used the internet.

The figures were put together by the Office for National Statistics in January to March 2020, and the ONS said the larger than usual growth in internet use by adults aged 75 years and over could be partly related to the effects of the beginning of the pandemic.

Recent internet usage by the age group made its biggest leap between 2019 and 2020, increasing by over seven percentage points, a considerably larger year-on-year increase than seen previously.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: ”All older people should have the support and encouragement to get online if they want to but it’s essential that those who are offline, for whatever reason, should still be able to access services and support in a way that suits them.

“There’s no doubt that technology has been a real lifeline for many older people during the pandemic, with many relying on video calls and email to keep in touch with family and friends.

“But our research suggests a lack of digital skills and confidence is a barrier that prevents many over-75s getting online, alongside the associated costs.

“At Age UK we know that one-toone support and free or subsidised kit and broadband really helps overcome these difficulties, but sustained investment is needed if the government and businesses genuinely want to see more older people getting online.”

Figures produced by Age UK also suggest that around half a million people aged 65 and over, used to use the internet in the past but have not recently.

With everyday life increasingly transferred into the digital world during the pandemic, forcing shopping, socialising and many aspects of healthcare online, it is concerning that less than half of people (47%) with a registered disability over the age of 75 had used the internet in the last three months.

Helen Dobson, Managing Director of tech inclusion charity, Citizens Online, said: “Digital skills are part of our everyday lives and should be as essential as reading, writing and arithmetic. The need to access the internet and have the skills to use it confidently and safely has become acutely apparent during lockdown.

“With many essential services now online, the internet is an essential service and more support from the government is required to ensure everyone has access and digital skills.”