The charity Age UK has uncovered a deep digital divide among the older generation in its research into internet use using Understanding Society data.
Age UK mined data from waves 1-2 (2009-2011) of Understanding Society – the UK household study led by ISER – to measure local prevalence of
digital exclusion by age. The dataset has a variable that captures frequency and history of internet use. Special license access to the dataset was granted in order to reveal local level prevalence of internet use amongst those aged 65 and over.
The research showed that older people in Tyne and Wear are the least likely in England to be online, with only 28 per cent of people aged 65 and over reported to have used the internet. Meanwhile older people in Surrey are the most likely to be online, where 63 per cent of people aged 65 and over report using the internet.
It also reveals that there are only four areas in England where the percentage of older people online, outnumber those who are offline. The top and bottom five areas for internet use amongst people aged 65 and over are below.
Age UK says the research sends a clear message to the government, local authorities and businesses about internet use amongst older people, many of whom it says are increasingly focused on getting people to access their services online.
Commenting on the new findings, David Mortimer, Head of Digital Inclusion at Age UK, said the charity was concerned that in some parts of the country, more than twice as many older people are able to access the benefits of being online than in other areas, particularly as there appears to be a north/south divide around internet use amongst older people.
He said:
“The reasons behind this divide are wide and varied. We know for example that women aged 75 and over who live alone are the most likely group in society to have never been online. In addition, older people with lower economic wealth, those living alone and those in relatively worse health are far less likely to be online."
He added that he hoped the new data would highlight to the government, local authorities and businesses the work that needs to be done across the country to help older people to get online:
“More services from the private and public sectors are moving online in a bid to make significant cost savings. However if they want older people to use these services, they need to help them get online in the first place with tailored and on-going support.”
The charity said the internet could offer huge benefits to older people with recent research suggesting that those aged 65 and over online are nearly three times less likely to report being lonely than people who are offline. Being online also allows people to make savings and pursue hobbies.
Further information
Internet use amongst older people subject to North / South divide – AGE UK press release includes tables
The Charity is this week encouraging older people who have never been online to attend a local Tea and Biscuits Week session and calling on people who use technology to help an older person they know to get to grips with technology.
photo credit: Hannes Treichl