No Stop in Sight for Age 50+ Industry Development

Intelligent phones, good TVs, tablets — you identify it: People age 50-furthermore are embracing technologies. A new AARP study finds older adults are not only growing their expending on know-how, they would obtain even more of it if devices ended up geared to their needs.

This year, the ordinary adult age 50-plus expects to invest $912 on tech buys, up 11% from 2021 ($821) and a 130% rise from 2019 ($394), in accordance to a countrywide on line poll of about 3,000 Americans executed final slide.

Virtually eight in 10 respondents say technology has turn into an integral part of their lifestyle, and they use it regularly to link with liked ones. The require to swap or enhance merchandise for the residence prompted additional than seven in 10 to make a tech invest in in 2022.

Room to Expand the Industry

More mature grownups have an hunger for additional tech, but many uncover it hard to understand and navigate. In fact, 68% of those 50-moreover do not feel today’s engineering is developed with them in thoughts. 

When charge and facts privacy are worries, respondents most generally say it is the complexity of equipment, software program and components, as perfectly as the absence of obvious advantage, that can make them hesitant to purchase, the AARP study demonstrates.

Even now, tech possession and use are higher among more mature Individuals. The survey finds 86% individual a clever mobile phone, 70% have a wise Tv, 59% use a pill, 31% have a house assistant, 28% own a wearable machine, and 24% have a intelligent house-tech unit.

To keep in touch with others, 94% text, 88% electronic mail, 74% are on social media, and 67% movie chat. 

The most preferred social media platforms among the older people 50 and over are Facebook and YouTube. Use of Instagram enhanced from 24% in 2021 to 28% in 2022 among the this age group TikTok use also rose, from 10% to 15%.

A lot more than 80% engage in at minimum some kind of streaming for leisure, and 65% do so on a smart Tv set. Standard use of every day streaming is appreciably up among more mature People: About 35% of individuals age 50 and around stream day-to-day, when compared to 29% final year. 

Although Individuals love their technologies as a way to keep connected, take in amusement and store, the AARP research implies that these above age 50 are also significantly open up to applying it to assist their well-getting. About one in 5 say they are fascinated in applying health apps for meditation, eradicating terrible behaviors, or strengthening sleep.

Caregivers also see promise in the advantages of tech, according to the survey. Among the these age 50-furthermore caring for beloved types, additional than 50 % (52%) are interested in tech to support them with their caregiving requirements.

The most well-known property-tech security devices inspire independence and safety, these types of as doorbell cameras. Other items that garner desire incorporate household alarms and small digital equipment to switch off objects.

Have to have to Address the Facts Hole

Lack of details about what tech to use often retains shoppers from leveraging engineering-based alternatives for wellness and wellness, AARP uncovered. Although 24% of those people 50-as well as see medical professionals as a good resource, only 9% are getting facts from them about using tech to increase their wellbeing.

The AARP outcomes reflect a need to teach older people on the obtainable tech, how it will gain them, exactly where to get it, and how to use it. Contemplating the potential boundaries to tech adoption going through older consumers, the research indicates they will need to be certain that the item is effortless to use and to evidently fully grasp the positive aspects.

When determining what to obtain, respondents say they depend on own investigate (25%), recommendations from friends and loved ones (17%), and in-retail outlet or on-line promotions (15%) for many others seamless integration or interoperability with other tech products influences them (13%).

Methodology

The AARP tech survey was done on line amongst September 23 and October 6, 2022 in English and Spanish. The survey sampled 2,979 adults, weighted to replicate the array of demographics about U.S. grown ups age 18-as well as and age 50-moreover.

Suggested citation:

Kakulla, Brittne. 2023 Tech Traits and the 50-As well as. Washington, DC: AARP Study, January 2023. https://doi.org/10.26419/res.00584.001