“More and more grandparents are embracing social media and video-calling applications to be present for special family milestones, such as a grandchild’s first steps or distant relative’s birthday.” Nan Bosler – Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association.
If you are reading Frank and Earnest right now, you are obviously a user of the internet. If you are also over the age of, say, 65, you are part of the fastest growing group of technology users in Australia, according to a recent survey commissioned by nbn (lower case letters correct here!), the company building Australia’s national broadband network.
The survey identifies a new wave of what they are calling, ‘GranTechies’ – grandparents who are embracing fast broadband and smart devices to form deeper connections with their family and loved ones.
The report says that the majority of Australian grandparents surveyed, use the internet to connect with their children (76 per cent), grandchildren (59 per cent) and other family members (72 per cent).
While email is still the most widely used method of communication for the ‘grandparents’ surveyed (90 per cent said they used email), they are increasingly also using high-bandwidth video-calling applications such as FaceTime or Skype to stay in touch with grandchildren (35 per cent), while more than half are using Facebook (61 per cent) .
From a frequency perspective, 84 per cent of the grandparents using the internet to communicate with their family, are doing so on a weekly basis.
Better connected
According to nbn, smartphone users aged 55 and over are the fastest growing segment in Australia, increasing by 28 per cent in the last 12 months.
Similarly, tablet users aged 65 and over are the second fastest growing demographic and have increased by 46 per cent in the last 12 months.
More than half of the grandparents surveyed (62 per cent) agreed that using the internet has made them feel more connected, with 41 per cent saying that the internet helped them overcome feelings of loneliness and social isolation.
President of the Australian Seniors Computer Clubs Association, Nan Bosler, said they were seeing more and more grandparents, “embrace social media and video-calling applications to be present for special family milestones, such as a grandchild’s first steps or distant relative’s birthday.
“I have no doubt that with [….] fast and reliable internet services […], this new wave of ‘GranTechies’ will only continue to increase their adoption of technology to connect more often and more deeply with family and friends,” she said.
Does this survey ring true to you? You can read Keryn’s op-ed on internet access as a human right by clicking here.
Discussion1 Comment
As an aged care provider, we’re certainly keen to ensure we keep our clients connected, and online channels are the simplest way to reach a large and geographically dispersed audience. I love that seniors are embracing technology, as it helps us keep in touch with them!