Genworth Life Insurance Company

Are your prospects on the internet?

22% of Americans 65 and older use the Internet. The percentage of seniors who go online has jumped by 47% between 2000 and 2004. In a February 2004 survey, 22% of Americans age 65 or older reported having access to the Internet, up from 15% in 2000. That translates to about 8 million Americans age 65 or older who use the Internet. Email is equally popular among Internet users age 65 or older and their younger counterparts. Fully 94% of wired seniors have sent or received email, compared to 91% of all Internet users.

Pew Institute/internet March 2004

Seniors are one of the fastest growing groups online. People over 50 are surfing the net in record numbers. Active online elder Americans are averaging more than 20 hours a week online. 41 percent of online seniors have 1-3 years online experience. A staggering 93 percent of older Americans online say the Internet has improved their lives overall and 63 percent say the Internet has brought their families closer together.

While seniors are often the most reluctant to get online, once they take the plunge, they pass everyone else in the left lane. Why? Because they have more time.