Australians aged 50 to 69 are significantly more engaged with technology, understand its purpose and potential value. Those 70 and over are more digitally disengaged, citing lack of trust, confidence, skills and personal relevance.
Digital literacy with age
3/10 are highly digitally literate. This decreases with age:
50 to 69 year olds
- 23% - low to no digital skills
- 35% - moderate
- 42% - high
70+ year olds
- 57% - low to no digital skills
- 22% - moderate
- 21% - high
Older Australians are missing out on the basic ways to be connected
Make video calls
- 62% - never tried
- 14% - need assistance
Message or chat using social media
- 58% - never tried
- 10% - need assistance
Take and send a photo on a smartphone
- 53% - never tried
- 11% - need assistance
Install and update an app or program
- 51% - never tried
- 23% - need assistance
Older Australians – what are they doing online?
Researching about goods they would like to purchase (at least once a week)
- 25% - 50 to 59 year olds
- 12% - 70 to 79 year olds
Banking (once a week)
- 37% - 50 to 59 year olds
- 29% - 70 to 79 year olds
Paying bills online (at least once a week)
- 30% - 50 to 59 year olds
- 23% - 70 to 79 year olds
Searching for information about government services (at least once a month)
- 31% - 50 to 59 year olds
- 30% - 70 to 79 year olds
Buying goods online (at least once a month)
- 24% - 50 to 59 year olds
- 19% - 70 to 79 year olds
BeConnected.esafety.gov.au
Source: Research commissioned by eSafety, May to June 2017. Respondents comprised 3,602 adults aged 50 years and over in Australia.
