Attention Macy’s, Media, and Money Managers: The 65+ crowd is coming to the Internet!

Posted by on Jul 19, 2012 in Baby Boomers, Silent Generation | 0 comments

At a time when customers are scarce and business is down, your new secret consumer may be the often-overlooked and financially-secure 65+ crowd!

Here are the outstanding and surprising results of a recent Pew Internet report:

  • For the first time, more than half of adults ages 65 and older are online!
  • Once online, most of these adults make Internet use a regular part of their lives!
  • Seven in ten own a cell phone!
  • One in three online 65+ adults uses networking sites like Facebook and Linkedin!
  • From April 2009 to May 2011, social networking site use for the 65+ crowd grew 150%!

The 65+ consumer comes from the two generations: the Baby Boom Generation (born 1943 to 1960) and the Silent Generation (born 1925 to 1942) – and each of these generations responds to different stimuli.  For example, Boomers prefer the opinions of their peers over those of experts, while Silents respect and need expert opinion.  What’s a marketer to do?  Ask Ann!

For more from Pew Internet report, check out:  http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2012/Older-adults-and-internet-use/Summary-of-findings.aspx