Elderly Americans and the Internet: E-mail, TV news, information and entertainment websites

Older Americans, like other groups, vary in their use of the Internet. The participants for this study--elderly computer users from a Midwestern mid-size sample--used e-mail and considered it the most important Internet function. It was common for them to use e-mail with family and friends on a regular, if not daily, basis. When this group of older people did surf the Web, they were more likely to seek information about their special interests rather than visiting mass media sites. They were most likely to use Google.com or Yahoo.com to find sites dealing with weather, health, games, jokes, and entertainment. Additionally, some were interested in online shopping and auctions. The results of this exploratory study suggest the need for radio and television stations's websites to serve as a portal through which elderly users may access information they want and need.